Woman Reading c. 1922

Boris Grigoriev painted this "Woman Reading," with what looks like oil on canvas and a muted color palette. The paint has been layered in such a way that it almost looks like a fresco, like he’s working into the wall, each brushstroke contributes to the overall texture of the piece, creating a sense of depth and dimensionality. Take a look at the way the fabric drapes across her shoulders, see how the light catches on those tiny ridges of paint, giving it a tangible, almost sculptural quality? It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, in the way that Grigoriev is finding the sublime in what might seem like an ordinary domestic scene. Both artists share an interest in the possibilities of paint as a medium for capturing the inner lives of women. Ultimately art is about making connections, and each artist’s contribution is part of an ongoing conversation that transcends time and space.