Old City

This miniature vertical artwork is an exceptionally captivating and meticulous example of the centuries-old traditional Uzbek "Kundji" (Kundal) technique. This style stands out for its thick, textured, and relief-like surface, as well as the expressive, three-dimensional portrayal of lanterns, windows, and houses. The piece depicts a night in a narrow, shadowy street of the old city: mud-brick and brick houses with windows casting a warm, fiery glow, along with the silhouettes of passersby, a horseman, and a figure sitting aside. Above, tall dark trees reaching for the sky and the silhouettes of distant twinkling houses on a hill imbue the composition with a special nocturnal serenity and vibrant charm. The entire scene is executed in the dense, textured, and relief impasto characteristic of the Kundji style, while the thick layers of dark blue and grey tones (relief brushwork) grant the artwork exceptional material presence, depth, and ancient allure.