Self-portrait 1927

This is a self-portrait, no date given, by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, done in oils. It’s like he's mixed pinks, oranges, and reds in a way that makes skin look like marble, or clay. The blue background, it's not just *there*, it's alive, with its own texture, kind of mimicking the skin, but colder. Look closely, and you can see how the paint is laid on in layers, especially around the eyes and mouth. Each stroke is a decision, a little puzzle piece in the bigger picture. It's like he's building himself up, layer by layer, emotion by emotion. The texture of the paint is rough in places, smooth in others, like the face itself. Petrov-Vodkin reminds me a bit of Paula Modersohn-Becker, especially in the way he uses color to give weight and form. But where she's all about earthy sensuality, he's got this intellectual, almost spiritual quality. Art's just one big conversation, right?