In 1870, Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov was one of the leaders of Moscow School of Arts, Sculpture and Architecture, and one of the Founders of the Itinerants, an association of Russian realism painters engaged in enlightening activities through travelling exhibitions. At that time, the artistic world had not yet acquired the famous masterpiece by Savrasov Rooks Have Come Back; however, the master already had finished the Moonlit Night. Marshland.
This painting illustrates not only the mature period in the artist’s portfolio, but also the establishment of Russian school of landscape painting, which was to become an important element of the culture evolution in Russian Empire on the turn of the 20th century.
Landscapes were no longer just points on the map and backgrounds for portraits. From now on, the depicted area impersonated the national character or even “the mysterious Russian soul”.
Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov became the founder of the style, which showed the lyricism of Russian landscapes in a new way. The nature was depicted on a grand epic scale, even given its scanty beauty. That is, the paintings reflected the people’s impressions of the nature. The intimacy and the spirit were considered the important aspects of the paintings.
On one hand, the Moonlit Night. Marshland was in line with the fresh concept due to the depicted romantic time of the day by a water body. On the other hand, the painting stands out because such dead-water in the depth of the country seldom caught attention of the artists.
The painting demonstrates fully the unique talent of the master. He preferred the earthy shades with inclusion of some yellow and blue to show the melancholic atmosphere of this lonely spot. The contours of the stony banks are vague, the shadows of low plants are soft, and the horizon is open and spacious all the way to total darkness. This adds the grandeur to the sleepy territory.
At the same time, the brush strokes are fine and energetic.
The artist selected the shepherds and the herd as the painting staff age. They probably symbolize the strong bond between a human being and the forces of nature.
It is worth saying that in 1860-70-s, Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov travelled both at home and abroad. He had an especially strong impression of British realism painters and believed their work to be very natural and true to life.
The Itinerants strive to achieve the same results. Other famous landscape painters were the members of this association: Vasily Ivanovich Surikov, Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov, Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin and Isaac Ilyich Levitan.
This painting illustrates not only the mature period in the artist’s portfolio, but also the establishment of Russian school of landscape painting, which was to become an important element of the culture evolution in Russian Empire on the turn of the 20th century.
Landscapes were no longer just points on the map and backgrounds for portraits. From now on, the depicted area impersonated the national character or even “the mysterious Russian soul”.
Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov became the founder of the style, which showed the lyricism of Russian landscapes in a new way. The nature was depicted on a grand epic scale, even given its scanty beauty. That is, the paintings reflected the people’s impressions of the nature. The intimacy and the spirit were considered the important aspects of the paintings.
On one hand, the Moonlit Night. Marshland was in line with the fresh concept due to the depicted romantic time of the day by a water body. On the other hand, the painting stands out because such dead-water in the depth of the country seldom caught attention of the artists.
The painting demonstrates fully the unique talent of the master. He preferred the earthy shades with inclusion of some yellow and blue to show the melancholic atmosphere of this lonely spot. The contours of the stony banks are vague, the shadows of low plants are soft, and the horizon is open and spacious all the way to total darkness. This adds the grandeur to the sleepy territory.
At the same time, the brush strokes are fine and energetic.
The artist selected the shepherds and the herd as the painting staff age. They probably symbolize the strong bond between a human being and the forces of nature.
It is worth saying that in 1860-70-s, Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov travelled both at home and abroad. He had an especially strong impression of British realism painters and believed their work to be very natural and true to life.
The Itinerants strive to achieve the same results. Other famous landscape painters were the members of this association: Vasily Ivanovich Surikov, Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov, Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin and Isaac Ilyich Levitan.
