Yefim Chestnyakov’s fairly small painting “A girl in the woods” played an important role in his evolution and growth as an artist. It was painted in the early days of his creative career when the emerging artist was studying in Saint Petersburg. After his application to enroll in the city’s Academy of Arts had been rejected, he followed Ilya Repin’s advice and began his studies at the Art studio founded by Princess MarIa Tenisheva, who, just as many members of the aristocracy, was keen on creative works of artists from the World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) movement.
Many young people who studied with Yefim Chestnyakov at the studio later became famous artists. One of them was quite an influence on Yefim Chestnyakov and his art. His name was Ivan BilIbin, and he was a keen illustrator of Russian fairy tales who collaborated with the World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) magazine. Folk tales were already a part of Yefim Chestnyakov’s literary creations, and, at the time, he was in search of his own individual painting style to best portray their essence. Yefim Chestnyakov was drawn to the World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) movement because its artists sought inspiration from Russia’s history and impressed him with their exquisite and beautiful creations.
Among Yefim Chestnyakov’s works of art from the 1910s, there are some executed in the style resembling that of the followers of the World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) movement. And the painting ‘A girl in the woods’ is one of them. The picture depicts a young woman sitting in a glade near birch trees with a green forest in the background. Her perfect face, framed by a halo of fair hair, resembles that of a forest fairy. She does not look at all like a young peasant woman, who Yefim Chestnyakov was so familiar with, and who he dedicated many of his creations to during his adulthood.
Yefim Chestnyakov’s natural talent and professional skill are evidenced in this early work of art, “A girl in the woods”. By then, he had already mastered the art of painting and of choosing optimal compositions and colors, essential for any creation on a canvas. The painting’s well-defined beautiful imagery and bright color scheme, based on predominantly green hues interspersed with spots of white and red, draw viewers in. And although the artist’s individual style was not fully defined as yet, the painting’s subject matter - woods and people gathering its riches - would play a prominent role in Yefim Chestnyakov’s art work in later years.
Many young people who studied with Yefim Chestnyakov at the studio later became famous artists. One of them was quite an influence on Yefim Chestnyakov and his art. His name was Ivan BilIbin, and he was a keen illustrator of Russian fairy tales who collaborated with the World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) magazine. Folk tales were already a part of Yefim Chestnyakov’s literary creations, and, at the time, he was in search of his own individual painting style to best portray their essence. Yefim Chestnyakov was drawn to the World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) movement because its artists sought inspiration from Russia’s history and impressed him with their exquisite and beautiful creations.
Among Yefim Chestnyakov’s works of art from the 1910s, there are some executed in the style resembling that of the followers of the World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) movement. And the painting ‘A girl in the woods’ is one of them. The picture depicts a young woman sitting in a glade near birch trees with a green forest in the background. Her perfect face, framed by a halo of fair hair, resembles that of a forest fairy. She does not look at all like a young peasant woman, who Yefim Chestnyakov was so familiar with, and who he dedicated many of his creations to during his adulthood.
Yefim Chestnyakov’s natural talent and professional skill are evidenced in this early work of art, “A girl in the woods”. By then, he had already mastered the art of painting and of choosing optimal compositions and colors, essential for any creation on a canvas. The painting’s well-defined beautiful imagery and bright color scheme, based on predominantly green hues interspersed with spots of white and red, draw viewers in. And although the artist’s individual style was not fully defined as yet, the painting’s subject matter - woods and people gathering its riches - would play a prominent role in Yefim Chestnyakov’s art work in later years.
