Liturgy, St. Andrew 1914

Natalia Goncharova made this gouache on paper, Liturgy, St. Andrew, and it feels like a beautiful collision between tradition and avant-garde exploration. Look at those reds and oranges, so vibrant, layered in geometric shapes. It’s as if she's building up an icon, piece by piece, almost like a collage with paint. I find myself drawn to the floral patterns on St. Andrew’s garment. They’re decorative, almost folksy, yet they sit within this very modern composition. The paint isn't trying to hide itself, is it? Each stroke, each angle, feels deliberate, revealing the process of construction. It's a kind of raw honesty, like you're seeing the art being made right in front of you. Goncharova clearly absorbed elements from icons, Russian folk art, and cubism, all at once. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, always borrowing, always transforming. It's the kind of piece that invites you to bring your own experiences and make the meaning yourself.