Murmansk. Schooner. 1937

Pyotr Konchalovsky’s watercolor painting captures several schooners resting in a harbor. I can just picture him outside with his watercolor set, quickly working to capture the light and the movement of the water. Look at how loosely Konchalovsky’s laid down the colors, especially on the water. He's really pushing the watercolor to its limit here, isn't he? Such freedom! You can see the individual brushstrokes and almost feel the water's motion. I love how he suggests the reflections without getting too fussy. He doesn't belabor the details, and it is more about capturing the feeling of the boats bobbing on the water and the atmosphere of the place. I imagine it was quite chilly and grey! What really sings to me is that this piece is part of a long history of artists responding to the world around them, and finding new ways of expressing what they see and feel. It's a beautiful example of how painting can be both immediate and timeless.