The Merchant's Wife at Tea 1918

Boris Kustodiev captured this scene of bourgeois life with oils on canvas, but I wonder what kind of tea that merchant’s wife is drinking? The surface is smooth and glossy, reflecting light in a way that almost makes the scene feel surreal. I can almost feel the weight of the humid air around the woman, laden with the sweet scent of watermelon, and the cloying aroma of pastries and tea. Look at the way the composition is structured, with the table acting as a stage and the Merchant’s Wife as the star! I wonder if Kustodiev felt a similar affinity for the subject and all her material wealth? The cat, too, seems ready to pounce into our world. Painters learn from painters, and, like, this feels connected to folk art, too. There’s a sense of freedom here, a kind of expression which embraces uncertainty and multiple meanings. It all invites us to see the world in a playful, thoughtful way.