Lilacs 1906

Boris Kustodiev made this painting, Lilacs, with oil on canvas, and it feels like such a moment. The painting’s surface is alive with juicy brushstrokes that capture the dappled light filtering through the lilac bush. You can almost smell those blooms, right? I think Kustodiev understood that painting is about more than just representation, it’s about the act of making and what that can do. Look at the way he's layered the paint to build the image, not just to describe, but to make something new. The thick, almost sculptural application of paint in the leaves of the lilac bush, that's where the magic happens. Each stroke is a deliberate act, a record of his engagement with the world. It reminds me of the way Bonnard used colour and light to create these dreamlike, domestic interiors. But here, Kustodiev is capturing something distinctly Russian, a specific quality of light and place. Ultimately, it feels like Kustodiev is reminding us that art is a conversation, and the best conversations are the ones where we’re willing to listen and let the work surprise us.