On the Square 1912

Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin created this painting with oil, and right away you can see he’s not precious. It’s a scene, maybe a stage set, captured with quick, lively strokes. The way he uses color is so confident, like he's slapping paint on with a sense of joy, not worrying about getting it “right." Look at the lower part of the painting, where the figures blend into the background with loose brushwork. The colors are dark and muted, and yet, they still shimmer with life. It’s as if the artist wants us to feel the atmosphere of the square, the hustle and bustle, without getting bogged down in the details. Korovin was part of the Russian Impressionist movement, and it’s fun to think of him alongside someone like Manet. Both artists, in their own ways, captured the fleeting moments of modern life. In the end, art is not about answers, but about keeping the conversation going.