Ochre yellows and blue-gray waters, stark purple shadows and surreal orange flesh illustrate the mood of Ladyzhensky’s memories of the port and beach in Odessa. Seen as if from above, the divisions between sand and water, or water and stone, become rigid, geometric compositions. The figures painted here show the full range of activity on Ladyzhensky’s beaches. Some relax in the sun, while others are hard at work.

In Spring at Otrada Beach, the men are hard at work painting reddish boats blue.

In The Guys Are Painting Well, three men are leisurely painting pictures, rather than boats.