Mistra 1921

Alexis Gritchenko made this painting, Mistra, using oil on canvas, at an unknown date. What strikes me right away is how Gritchenko constructs a landscape out of confident, geometric blocks of colour, almost like a puzzle. This kind of artmaking is about process, a journey of layering and discovery. If you step closer, you'll notice the surface is built up from strokes that are directional, almost architectural, like he's building the landscape brick by brick. Look at the way he’s rendered that craggy mountain range - blues and grays chopped into facets. It’s not about replicating the view perfectly; it’s about the act of seeing and translating that vision onto the canvas. There's a playful echo here of Cezanne's architectural landscapes, where form is broken down into its essential shapes. But Gritchenko adds his own, bolder palette. It all serves as a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, an echo of ideas across time. Ultimately, what matters is how the painting speaks to you and the questions it stirs.