Still Life with Begonia 1916

Pyotr Konchalovsky made this Still Life with Begonia with generous daubs of vibrant colour, the scene emerging through intuitive gestures. I can imagine Konchalovsky in front of this begonia plant, the fruit arranged in bowls, stepping back, squinting, tilting his head, then moving in close, and trusting the process to guide him. There’s such a feeling of abundance and vibrancy, captured with thick textures of paint. The leaves, rendered in varying shades of green, red, and brown, convey the lushness of the plant. And the brushstrokes, they’re so alive! See how they follow the form and volume of the leaves, but also break away, creating a rhythm that is like the plant swaying in the breeze. The influence of artists such as Cézanne and Matisse is clear in the work’s simplification of form and emphasis on colour and bold brushwork, which serves to enhance the emotional impact. Artists like Konchalovsky teach us to be more attentive, and to find joy and meaning in the everyday.