Students. In the sculpture studio 1966

Dmitri Zhilinsky’s painting, "Students. In the sculpture studio," captures a moment of artistic instruction, likely made with oil paint. The muted color palette and somewhat rigid figures give the scene a solemn, almost classical feel. There’s a beautiful contrast between the smoothness of the classical sculptures that sit as a backdrop and the visible brushstrokes describing the clothing and faces of the students. Notice how Zhilinsky uses thin layers of paint to build up the shadows and highlights, creating depth without relying on heavy impasto. The earnest expressions on the faces of the students and the way the light falls across the scene, adds an almost spiritual dimension to the mundane activity of artmaking. The simplified forms and contemplative mood in this piece remind me of early Renaissance frescoes, but Zhilinsky also pushes these classical references into modern territory. He reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation with the past.