Sergei Gerasimov visited the Caucasus twice in the 1930s where he created a series of small sketches dedicated to Kislovodsk. In these works the author conveyed the atmosphere of a sunny and populous resort town.

The artist depicted the city on a hot summer day. People are walking along the streets, almost all of them are wearing bright dresses and suits; many are sporting hats or scarves protecting them from the sun. In his works, Sergei Gerasimov paid great attention to light, with the help of which he conveyed the atmosphere and mood. The central square of Kislovodsk looks bright and festive. It is flooded with sunlight; the tree shadows are painted in a way that makes them seem light and semi translucent. The artist conveyed the flavor of the southern nature and the feeling of summer heat through the abundance of greenery and the whitewashed accents on the walls of the buildings, the land and the clothes of the holidaymakers.

Sergey Gerasimov was born in 1885 in Mozhaisk. His father was a simple tanner who was greatly interested in painting and instilled a love of art in his children.

At the age of 15, Sergei Gerasimov left for Moscow and entered the Stroganov School of Drawing to later enroll at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. He studied there with famous artists - Konstantin Korovin and Valentin Serov. After graduating from the Gerasimov School, he took up teaching: he was admitted to the art school at the printing house of the famous Moscow publisher Ivan Sytin.

During his trips, Sergei Gerasimov created many sketches on the basis of which he was going to paint large canvases. But soon World War I broke out and he went to the front.

After the October 1917 Revolution, Gerasimov painted portraits and landscapes for the soul. It was difficult to make a living by painting, so he drew propaganda posters and slogans. Gerasimov’s paintings reappeared at the exhibitions only by the beginning of the 1930s. He created large-scale paintings dedicated to the October 1917 Revolution and other historical events, painted scenes from peasant life and industrial landscapes. He also painted watercolors and illustrated books.