View over the rooftops. France 1926

Zinaida Serebriakova made this joyful painting in France sometime in the early 20th century. Just look at that flurry of brushstrokes! It’s like she’s right there, moving between the intimate foreground of the rooftops, and the distant fields. I can almost feel her standing in front of the canvas, squinting to capture that particular moment. It’s a deceptively simple painting, but there’s a lot going on. I'm particularly drawn to the mix of blues and greens in the distance. They're not blended, but kind of nudged together, each stroke distinct yet part of a whole. It's a loose style, and recalls Impressionist landscapes, but I think Serebriakova has her own thing going on. It's like she's saying, "I'm not trying to trick you into thinking this is real life. This is paint. But look what paint can do!" Painters are always in dialogue. I find that idea so comforting because painting is hard, but it makes me feel less alone in the studio.