Pears on a Blue Tablecloth 1915

Igor Grabar created this painting, Pears on a Blue Tablecloth, using oil on canvas, and the approach to color is just wonderful, a real experience of artmaking as a process. Look at how Grabar lays down the paint, especially in that tablecloth. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric, can't you? The blues aren't just blue; they're mixed with whites and purples, creating this shimmering effect. And then there are the pears, each one a little world of color, from the greens to the oranges. I'm drawn to the way the light catches the edge of that cup, and how the shadow beneath it sort of anchors it to the tablecloth. It is almost like he used the brush like a little trowel, spreading the paint thickly in some areas and thinly in others, allowing the surface to catch the light in interesting ways. This reminds me a little of Bonnard, especially his intimate domestic scenes and vibrant color palettes. Art is always an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, isn't it? The beauty of art is that it embraces ambiguity. We're allowed to bring our own experiences and feelings to it.