Untitled (Boat, Karelia) 1972

Petros Malayan made this painting of a boat in Karelia using what looks like oil paint, and I'm really drawn to its directness. The ochre and olive color palette give the scene a kind of melancholy, and the choppy brushstrokes are so expressive, like the artist was trying to capture a fleeting moment. You can almost feel the cool, damp air and the gentle rocking of the boat. I imagine Malayan standing there, battling the elements, trying to capture the essence of this place. The way the paint is applied, thick in some areas and thin in others, adds to the overall texture and depth of the painting. The scene reminds me of other painters such as Van Gogh, who used thick strokes to convey emotions, and I get a sense of connection to other artists through time, riffing off each other's ideas. It is this kind of conversation between artists, across time, that sparks something new, a fresh way of seeing and feeling.