Study to "January 9, 1905 on Vasilyevsky island" 1905

Vladimir Makovsky made this study in 1905, probably in oil on canvas, and it’s all about capturing a moment, a feeling, with these quick, expressive strokes. The colors are muted, mostly browns and whites, reflecting the cold, snowy scene, but there's this splash of pink in the man's shirt that just grabs your eye. Looking closely, you can see how the paint is applied in layers, almost like the artist was building up the image piece by piece. The texture is rough in places, especially in the man's coat. Look at the way Makovsky painted the face of the man in the centre, the raw emotion, like he is about to expose himself to the world! It’s like he wanted to show the rawness of the moment, and all the emotion, grief and fear that come with it. Makovsky's work reminds me a little of Ilya Repin, who also dealt with social themes. Both were part of a broader movement in Russian art that sought to depict the realities of life, in all its complexity. Art is about starting conversations, stirring emotions, and reflecting the world around us, isn't it?