Lenin in Razliv. Study 1934

Arkady Rylov made this study of Lenin in Razliv with what looks like oil paint, capturing a moment in time with broad strokes of color. The way Rylov lays down the paint is so direct. It's like he's trying to grab the fleeting light of the sunset. The texture isn't fussy; it's right there on the surface, telling you about the speed and energy of his process. Look at how the orange and purple hues meet, creating these little pockets of light and shadow. The paint application isn’t trying to hide anything. It reminds me a little of some of the early Impressionists, like maybe a quick study by Monet, where the goal is to capture an impression. What is so great about painting, is there is no fixed meaning, so we can embrace ambiguity and play with multiple interpretations.