Krukov canal. At the Mariinsky theatre

A canal lined with cast-iron railings recedes toward a cluster of ornate historic buildings in golden and green facades, their upper stories catching low sunlight. Bare trees stand along both embankments, a dark car is parked at the curb on the left, and the canal's surface, patched with ice, mirrors the buildings and trees above.

Thick, textured impasto strokes of ochre, green and rust capture the sunlit facades against a cool grey sky, with the water rendered in broken reflections of warm and cool tones. The interplay of raking light and shadow across the embankment gives the cityscape a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.