Kineshma. Steamer at the pier 1906

Boris Kustodiev made this drawing of a steamer at a pier, using what looks like graphite or charcoal, with soft grays that create a misty kind of light. Imagine him there, maybe it’s cold, squinting at the scene. The drawing feels immediate. It’s like Kustodiev is trying to capture the moment before it floats away. See how the lines aren't precise, but rather shaky and layered? They remind me of Cy Twombly’s scribbles, but here, they're describing boats. I wonder if he was seasick? Look at the flags on the boat. They’re kind of flapping even though they’re still. I think Kustodiev is playing with capturing movement, trying to make stillness feel like it’s alive. You can see it in the reflections on the water too, smudgy and uncertain. It’s like he's saying, "Hey, nothing stands still, not even for a drawing." And that’s how artists keep the conversation going. They grab what's fleeting and show us how to feel it too.