Marina Grande, Capri. Winter 1927

Konstantin Gorbatov made this painting, Marina Grande, Capri, Winter, with oil on canvas, though we don't know exactly when. Look at how the colours are slapped on, juicy and thick! It's all about the process, isn't it? The way the strokes build up, one after the other, like layers of experience. See how the buildings are just blocks of colour, not trying to be too precise. The texture is great, you can almost feel the grit of the paint. The red and orange building is a highlight, like a warm thought on a cold day. The way the brushstrokes are visible makes me think of Van Gogh; the same love for texture and colour, even though the palette is much more muted. It feels like a memory, impressionistic and immediate. It's not just a picture, it's a feeling.