Leonid Afremov 12 Leonid Afremov (1955-)

The canvas presents a nocturnal urban scene dominated by vibrant color and impasto technique. Here we observe a narrow waterway flanked by tall, closely-spaced buildings with gabled roofs. The architecture suggests a European setting, possibly a canal city. The perspective is sharply angled, drawing the viewer’s eye deep into the composition along the waters surface.
The most striking element is the intense color palette. Buildings are rendered in shades of orange and red, illuminated by an unseen light source that casts warm reflections on their facades. This warmth contrasts with the cool blues and purples used to depict the sky and the water’s surface. The artist employed a thick application of paint – impasto – which creates a textured surface and enhances the luminosity of the colors. Each brushstroke is visible, contributing to a sense of dynamism and energy.
The reflections in the water are not merely copies of the buildings above; they are distorted and fragmented, creating an almost abstract pattern that interacts with the sky’s reflection. This interplay between reality and its mirrored counterpart suggests a dreamlike quality. The light sources – likely street lamps or windows – appear as points of concentrated color, further contributing to the overall vibrancy.
The composition evokes feelings of warmth, intimacy, and perhaps even nostalgia. The close proximity of the buildings creates a sense of enclosure, while the vibrant colors suggest a lively atmosphere. There is an underlying feeling of romanticism; the scene feels idealized rather than strictly representational.
Subtly, the painting hints at themes of urban life, memory, and perception. The distorted reflections could be interpreted as representing the subjective nature of experience or the way memories are fragmented over time. The intense colors might symbolize the emotional intensity associated with a place or a moment in time. Ultimately, the work invites contemplation on the relationship between observation, representation, and personal feeling.