Бялыницкий Бируля. Лодки. 1913

Vitold Byalynitsky-Birulya made this painting of boats maybe with oils, layering strokes and dabs to summon a cool, watery landscape. I can imagine Byalynitsky-Birulya, squinting into the sun, trying to capture the precise shade of the water, mixing blues and greens, maybe adding a touch of white to get that shimmering effect. The texture is so tangible; you can almost feel the dampness in the air. Look at the little brushstrokes that build the boats, each one placed with such care and attention. I wonder if he struggled with representing this, did he keep going until it looked right? Painters are always borrowing and building upon one another's work, echoing forms and ideas across generations. I see a bit of Corot in the misty light, a touch of Impressionism in the broken brushwork. Painting is like a big conversation, full of half-finished sentences and gestures. It's always questioning, suggesting, and inviting us to see the world in new ways. And I think, ultimately, that’s what makes it so endlessly fascinating.