Turkestan Apples 1920

Igor Grabar painted "Turkestan Apples" with oil on canvas, and what strikes me first is the juicy, almost edible quality he achieves with such simple marks. The brushstrokes are direct, confident, like he's wrestling the paint into submission, yet letting it breathe. Look at how Grabar builds up the texture, especially on the apples themselves. It's not about photorealism; it’s about the pure joy of applying paint, the surface almost vibrating with energy. There's this one apple, near the bottom left corner, where he's dabbed a little stroke of red, hinting at ripeness, or maybe a bruise, who knows? But it’s this little touch that brings the whole thing to life. Grabar reminds me of someone like Morandi, finding endless fascination in everyday objects, elevating them through the sheer act of looking and painting. It's a reminder that art isn't about answers, it's about asking questions, and savoring the delicious uncertainty of it all.