Leonid Afremov 5 Leonid Afremov (1955-)

The canvas presents a nocturnal urban scene, dominated by vibrant color and energetic brushwork. A multi-story building occupies the central space, its facade illuminated with warm, amber light that spills onto the wet pavement below. The architecture appears European in style, characterized by tall windows and a symmetrical arrangement of openings. Flanking the structure are trees whose foliage is rendered in fiery oranges, yellows, and reds, suggesting autumn or late summer.
The ground plane is depicted as a reflective surface – a street slick with rain – which mirrors the lights and colors above, creating an immersive sense of depth and visual complexity. Several figures, identifiable by their dark silhouettes and umbrellas, populate the foreground, adding scale to the scene and hinting at the presence of everyday life continuing despite the weather.
The artist’s technique is notable for its impasto application of paint; thick strokes build texture and contribute to a sense of movement and dynamism. The sky, rendered in swirling blues and purples, provides a dramatic backdrop that intensifies the warmth emanating from the building and trees. This contrast creates a visual tension between coolness and heat, darkness and light.
Beyond the immediate depiction of a rainy street scene, the painting evokes feelings of melancholy and quiet contemplation. The solitary figures under umbrellas suggest a sense of isolation within an urban environment. The vibrant colors, while visually stimulating, also carry a hint of artificiality – a manufactured beauty that contrasts with the natural elements of rain and falling leaves. Theres a suggestion of longing or nostalgia embedded in the scene; it’s a moment captured, fleeting and imbued with a certain emotional weight.