Holiday in the countryside 1907

Boris Kustodiev made this painting, Holiday in the Countryside, with an earthy palette of greens, browns, and reds. You can sense his brushstrokes, almost see him stepping back and forth, figuring out how to capture that communal spirit. I'm struck by the rooftops of the houses, which create this zig-zag rhythm across the canvas. What could Kustodiev have been thinking as he captured the landscape? Maybe he thought of the painting as a stage where everyone has a part to play. He could have been thinking about the colors and textures of the dresses, the way the light hits the buildings, and the energy of the party. Look at the trees on the horizon, they're like a painterly gesture that echoes the shapes of the figures below. You get a sense of connection between these different elements, which feels very generous and open. It reminds me that every artist builds on what others have done, and we are constantly drawing inspiration from each other.