Moscow Street 1911

Natalia Goncharova's painting gives us a snapshot of a Moscow Street with a limited colour palette dominated by red and blue. I can imagine her outside in the street, holding a brush loaded with juicy paint. The texture is so thick, you can almost feel the weight of the brushstrokes as she's laying down those colours. Just imagine her, squinting in the sunlight, trying to capture the essence of the city. Goncharova's red and blue palette really draws you in. She uses these bright, bold strokes to create a sense of movement and energy, like the whole street is buzzing with life. You can almost hear the clatter of the carriage wheels and the chatter of the crowds. Goncharova must have been so inspired by the work of other painters of her time, like the Fauves. She was also a set designer, so perhaps these theatrical gestures were part of her approach to art. All of these painters shared this ongoing conversation between them, exchanging ideas. What a moment to be alive and painting!