Peasant women at the market in Sofia 1903

Anton Mitov made this painting of peasant women at the market in Sofia with oil on canvas and it’s all about capturing a moment, a slice of life. The colors are earthy, muted, like the dust of the marketplace itself is mixed into the paint. Look how the light falls across the figures, dappled by the shade of the awning. It’s not about sharp details but more about the feel of the place. The paint is applied in loose, visible strokes, and you can almost feel the artist working quickly, trying to catch the fleeting scene before it changes. That one woman, standing slightly apart in her blue and white dress, her back to us, she’s like a focal point, but also anonymous, just one figure in the bustling crowd. It reminds me of the Impressionists, like a Bulgarian Manet perhaps. It’s a good reminder that painting is a process, not just a picture. It's an ongoing conversation.