Cafe in Yalta 1905

Konstantin Korovin made this scene of a cafe in Yalta with visible, textured brushstrokes and a subdued palette. I can almost feel the sun filtering through the trees. Looking at this, I imagine Korovin standing there, palette in hand, squinting slightly as he tries to capture the light and the mood of the place. Maybe he’s thinking about the Impressionists in France, or maybe he’s just lost in the moment, trying to get the shadows just right, that fleeting sense of a sunny day in a specific place. The paint looks quite thick in parts, doesn’t it? Like he’s really building up the surface, and the dabs of color seem to vibrate with warmth. It reminds me that painting is as much about feeling as it is about seeing. That little flick of green along the fence – such a simple gesture, but it brings the whole scene to life. It all feels so intimate and immediate, as if we’re right there with him, sharing a coffee and soaking up the atmosphere.