The top of Mount Elbrus in the Sunlight 1908

Arkhyp Kuindzhi made this painting of Mount Elbrus, likely in his studio, translating an experience, memory, or sketch into pigment. I imagine he mixed a palette of earthy browns and cool blues, and, starting with a dark ground, gradually built up the form with layers of thin, glazed paint. You see how he captures the feeling of immense scale? The rocks in the foreground establish our perspective, looking out toward the distant snow-capped peak. There’s a real sense of depth, and it's not just about mimicking what the eye sees; it's about conjuring the feeling of being in that landscape, feeling the chill in the air, the vastness of space. I can see the way he has applied the paint, and this reminds me of the Hudson River School painters, who were also trying to capture the sublime power of nature. Ultimately, painting is about feeling and expressing the world in an expanded way, and Kuindzhi's vision certainly does that.