Biron Palace and barges 1916

Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva captured Biron Palace and barges using stark lines, maybe a woodcut technique, the scene unfolds in sepia tones, like an old photograph, all ochre and shadowy blacks. I imagine Anna, bundled up against the cold, watching the scene with a keen eye. The repetition of the masts and the reflections in the water, it's almost like she’s composing a piece of music. What do you think she was thinking as she was making this? Maybe she was thinking about the history of the place. The weight of the palace buildings versus the impermanence of the ships…it’s a delicate balance. You can almost feel the texture of the paper, right? Those etched lines create a tangible sense of depth. It reminds me of other artists of her generation, the way they were grappling with modernity and tradition. In the end, it’s not just about what’s depicted, it’s about the feeling it evokes, that sense of being in a specific time and place, caught between worlds. Artists are in an ongoing conversation, and even now, we can pick up the thread and add our own voices.