Village 1918

Boris Grigoriev made this painting, Village, using oils, and his approach to mark making is all about these angular shapes. It's like he's building the world out of facets, each one catching the light just so. Now, look at the face in the foreground – there's this incredible intensity, built from earthy tones, but it's the blue around the face that really grabs me. Grigoriev isn't afraid to let the colors clash and vibrate, creating this palpable sense of unease. The texture isn't smooth; you can see the brushstrokes, the physicality of the paint. It reminds me of some of the German Expressionists, Kirchner maybe, in the way they used color and form to convey emotion. Ultimately, this piece feels like a conversation. Grigoriev isn't trying to give us a definitive answer, but invite us to feel.