Memories of Mantegna 1910

Konstantin Bogaevsky made this painting, titled Memories of Mantegna, using oil on canvas. Look at how the city is built up out of these chunky, blocky forms, like he’s constructing it piece by piece. The city feels solid, but the sky above is all swirling energy. It's a real contrast, like the difference between our physical selves and our dreams. The paint is applied thinly, almost like a wash, especially in the sky. This gives it a kind of transparency, like you're looking through layers of memory. See how the reflections in the water are loose and gestural, compared to the hard edges of the buildings. That little moon is like a tiny beacon of hope, shining through the darkness. Think of Piranesi and his architectural fantasies, or maybe even some of the Symbolist painters who were interested in dreams and the subconscious. Ultimately, it’s a painting that leaves you with more questions than answers, which is exactly what good art should do.