The samovar 1926

"The Samovar" by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, is, of course, an oil painting, but it feels like watercolor, with its translucent hues and delicate brushstrokes. What strikes me is the way the artist builds up the image through layers, allowing the colours to subtly blend. The colour palette is so muted and cool, like a dream, yet there are these moments of warmth that pop through, especially on the figures skin. Look at the surface of the samovar; the reflection of light here is like a masterclass in colour mixing! Petrov-Vodkin captures the way light refracts and dances across its metal surface, which he achieves through a subtle blend of blues, greens, and yellows. It’s really quite mesmerizing. The dreamlike quality of the image and the subtle use of colour makes me think of some of Vuillard's interior scenes, intimate and domestic. As with Vuillard, Petrov-Vodkin seems to invite us into a private world, full of quiet contemplation and beauty. I find it so exciting how artworks leave space for interpretation, how their meanings are never fixed, but constantly evolving.