Sketch of Scenery for the Opera 'Valkyrie' 1929

This is a sketch for the opera 'Valkyrie' by Alexander Khvostenko-Khvostov, and you can see him thinking through the color and structure of what will become the set. Look at how the circles and squares hover on the surface, and how the lines are drawn in such a way as to show the underlying construction. There is a real sense of movement and energy to it, like he’s capturing a fleeting moment. I love the different textures and colors he’s used – the smooth, opaque circles against the pale ground. The way he’s layered the colors creates a sense of depth and dimension. The pale yellow makes it look like an old parchment. It’s fascinating to see how artists like Khvostenko-Khvostov work through their ideas and try out different possibilities. It reminds me of the work of Hilma af Klint, who also used geometric forms to explore spiritual themes. These artists demonstrate how art is an ongoing conversation.