Cafe 1901

Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin made this painting, called Cafe, with loose brushstrokes and a warm color palette. You can imagine him standing there with his easel, capturing the energy of this lively outdoor scene. I wonder if he was feeling a bit like an outsider, observing the people chatting and laughing, or if he was right in the thick of it, part of the cafe's vibrant atmosphere? The paint is applied so thickly in some areas, especially in the foreground, you can almost feel the texture. Look at how he's used these dabs of color to suggest the flickering lights and bustling crowd. I think of Impressionists like Monet and Renoir, who also tried to capture these fleeting moments of modern life. But Korovin has his own unique voice. He wasn't trying to create a perfect representation, more to convey a feeling, a mood. Like all painters, he contributes to an ongoing conversation. There is an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, where we all inspire one another’s creativity.