Elbrus in the Evening 1908

Arkhyp Kuindzhi painted ‘Elbrus in the Evening’ with oil on canvas, but there’s no date on it. He’s really working that pink-mauve color story. The way Kuindzhi moves the paint around reminds me that painting is really about doing. It’s not just about having a great idea, but about figuring it out as you go, like jazz or something. Look at how the lower half of the painting resolves into these horizontal striations. Up close, they're like a catalogue of mark-making, each one distinct. See how they evoke a sense of depth and atmosphere. The paint isn't trying to trick you, it allows you to see how the colours blend into one another, how the image is built up, layer by layer. There’s a touch of Turner in the romanticism of the scene, but also hints of Symbolism in the use of color. Ultimately, the joy of painting is that the possibilities are endless.