Sheep Shearing 1907

Natalia Goncharova made this striking, vibrant scene of Sheep Shearing using oil on canvas. The colours are so intense, almost dreamlike, and the brushstrokes have a directness that gives the impression of the artist going at it without hesitation. There's something very physical about the paint itself. It’s neither thin nor thick, but has a juicy quality that emphasizes the sheer joy of applying colour to canvas. If you look closely at the area around the sheep, you can see the energy in the application; almost like a dance between the brush and the surface. There is so much play with texture here. Goncharova reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, in the way she brings a contemporary style to scenes of rural life. Her work invites us to reconsider the conversations we have about art, and how those conversations are always expanding. It's not about answers, but about opening up the questions.