Landscape (Sea and Flowers) 1890

Konstantin Makovsky’s “Landscape (Sea and Flowers)” is an evocative oil painting that captures a serene coastal view. The composition is divided into three horizontal layers: the vibrant foreground with flowers, a grassy cliffside, and the tranquil sea and sky. The painting evokes a sense of calm and spaciousness. Makovsky uses a high vantage point, creating an expansive vista that flattens the landscape. Note how he uses the foreground flowers to frame the scene and lead the eye toward the distant sea, which is a classical structuralist technique. The juxtaposition of the densely textured foreground with the smoother sea creates a visual rhythm that engages the viewer. Makovsky uses color to differentiate each layer, with the green and yellow flowers contrasting with the cool blues of the water and sky. Makovsky’s technique invites us to consider how the painting constructs a particular vision of nature that challenges our own perceptions of space and depth.