Roofs 1923

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin made this drawing of roofs, we're not sure when. The black and white palette is so pared back. Every mark is made to count. It's like he's searching for the essence of seeing. The textures he conjures with simple lines are amazing. Look how the strokes of the pen create depth, making you feel like you could fall into the narrow streets. You can almost feel the rough surfaces of the buildings, the sun beating down on the roofs. And that rooftop scene, with those tiny figures? They’re like actors on a stage, caught in a moment, but they're also just marks on paper, illusions made real. The way he's tilted the perspective reminds me of some of the German Expressionists, like maybe Kirchner, but stripped down, made more direct. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfect representation. It's about finding new ways to see and feel the world.