Pock 1915

Igor Grabar made this painting on canvas with oil paint. It looks like he built the image up through small brushstrokes that create a mosaic of color. I like to imagine Grabar outside, in the midst of this scene, with a brush loaded with paint. What was it like for him to capture the dappled light filtering through the trees and foliage? He might have been thinking about the changing seasons, feeling the crispness of the air, and wanting to hold on to the last moments of warmth before winter sets in. The way he lays down the paint, dot by dot, creates this shimmer. Look at the orange leaves with bright red berries – the texture almost vibrates with energy. You know, it reminds me a bit of Pointillism, but with a Russian twist. And it makes me think about how every artist is in conversation with those who came before, taking ideas and making them their own. It’s all about seeing the world in a new way, and finding a language to share that vision with others.