Kelmė. Gates of estate. 1934

Dobuzhinsky made this drawing of the Kelmė estate gates with ink on paper in 1934. It looks like he’s used a fine nib to capture the light as it hits this old building. I wonder if Dobuzhinsky climbed up that ladder. The way it leans against the building makes me think of his presence and reminds me of getting older. I can imagine him steadying himself to make a sketch like this. He’s really captured the textures of the scene, from the roof tiles to the surrounding foliage. It’s like he’s inviting us to consider the building within nature. The trees and the building almost seem to be in conversation, exchanging wisdom. You see that the artist’s interest lies in creating an evocative and intimate atmosphere. I can feel his presence as he invites us into his confidence. The history of the image is there in his hand as he guides ours.