Shrovetide 1916

Boris Kustodiev made this painting of Shrovetide, and looking at it, I imagine him outdoors with the snow and horses, and a brush full of paint! The color palette is snowy and icy, yet it’s also warm and inviting. You can almost feel the chill of the air and the warmth of the sun on your face. I'm wondering, did Kustodiev paint this outside? I bet it would have been freezing, like Courbet painting in the snow. Maybe he painted it in the warmth of his studio, dreaming of the snow. The composition is so exciting, with the steep hill and horses charging down the slope. This wasn’t just about capturing a scene, it was about capturing the energy of the world, the flow of movement, and the feeling of life. Artists like Kustodiev help me see the world differently. What does it make you think?