Lilacs near St. Isaac's Cathedral

Masses of purple-lilac blossom fill the upper half of the canvas, spilling over a stone embankment beside a paved city sidewalk. A pedestrian holding a white umbrella walks along the pavement past street signs and lamp posts, with a hazy row of buildings and a stretch of grass and trees receding toward the corner in the distance.

Broken strokes of violet, mauve and green build up the dense foliage, set against a pale, softly hazy sky and grey stone paving. Warm and cool tones alternate across the leaves and pavement, giving the brushwork a lively, sketch-like energy that captures the fresh, damp feel of a blooming spring morning.