Lady on a Balcony, Koreiz 1914

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky painted 'Lady on a Balcony, Koreiz' with what looks like a generous amount of oil paint, creating a scene of leisure and calm. The brushstrokes feel deliberate, almost sculpting the forms, which gives the whole painting a tactile quality. I’m drawn to the way the blue of the sea is echoed in the shadows on the balcony floor; it’s as if the light itself is being filtered through water. The impasto is particularly noticeable in the red shawl draped over the lady's shoulders. Each dab of paint seems to vibrate with energy, suggesting the warmth of the sun on the fabric. It's not just red; it’s a symphony of reds, oranges, and even hints of purple. This makes me think of Pierre Bonnard who also had this knack for capturing light and color in such a way that the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Like Bonnard, Bogdanov-Belsky invites us to slow down and really see, to understand that art is as much about feeling as it is about seeing.