Sofia. View from the bell tower 1960

Yuriy Khymych painted this view of Sofia from the bell tower with oil on canvas, and it’s all about shapes, color, and how they play together. The artist isn’t trying to trick you into thinking you are standing in front of the real thing. It feels like Khymych is really feeling the architecture, the way the light hits the domes and walls. Look at the blues and purples he uses to describe the shaded areas of the building, and how they contrast with the golden domes that pop against the pale sky. He uses these contrasting colors to create depth. The paint is applied pretty directly, you can see the marks of the brush, there is no attempt to hide or blend. It gives the painting a sense of immediacy, like it was painted quickly, in one sitting, but in a way that is measured and considered. This painting reminds me of Milton Avery’s work with the way he reduces everything down to its simplest forms, while also imbuing it with a sense of atmosphere and light. These are paintings that don’t try to give you all the answers, and instead invite you to find your own way in.