Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin depicted a sunlit pine forest in many of his studies, including this one, titled “Forest”. It resulted in an 1886 painting known as “Sunlit Pines” which is currently displayed at the State Tretyakov Gallery.
For a long time, painters believed that the value of studies was limited to helping them prepare for creating the actual artwork. It was not until the second half of the 19thcentury that the attitude to studies changed in Russian art, and they began to be displayed more often at exhibitions. Landscapists painted studies from nature. One of the first Russian landscape painters who set great store by studies was Ivan Shishkin. By creating studies, he was able to explore nature, hone his painting skills, and work on the composition for his landscapes, all at the same time. His studies varied in size and style: they could either be regarded as finished paintings or preparation studies, done in a quick, sketchy, and offhand manner.
Shishkin painted the study “Forest” quickly, in a generalized manner, without paying a lot of attention to detail. He emphasizes the role of sunlight which creates an elevated and life-affirming feeling. It makes the colors brighter and lights up the lively nature with its play of shadows and contrasts. Shining through every corner of the forest and uniting all the elements of the composition, the sun breathes life into the painting, revealing the beauty of nature that often goes unnoticed.
Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin is perhaps the most popular
Russian landscape painter. He was born in Yelabuga, a small town in the Vyatka
Governorate, in 1832. His father was Ivan Vasilyevich Shishkin, a merchant of
the 2ndguild. Having noticed his son’s fascination with art, he
sent the young man to study at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and
Architecture. In 1856, Ivan Shishkin entered the Academy of Arts. Having been
awarded the Grand Gold Medal and the right to an Academy-sponsored foreign
trip, Ivan Shishkin traveled to Germany and Switzerland to improve his skills.
However, being homesick, he returned to Russia ahead of schedule and resolved
to travel only in his own country. Ivan Shishkin loved Russian nature; it was
the only thing he wanted to paint. In his paintings, nature is always strong,
mighty, and flourishing.
