The collection of the Iskitim Museum of Arts and History includes a small painting titled “Sunflowers” by Ivan Petrovich Popov.

Although the artist created this painting at his summer house in Chingis, a village in the Ordynskoye District, Novosibirsk Region, the image of a sunflower is associated with the memories of his childhood in the Altai region. The sunflower can be considered a symbol of Srostki, the native village of Ivan Popov. In summer, the areas around Srostki are covered with endless fields filled with bright sunflowers, gleaming with various colors like amber. As an indispensable element of local nature, sunflowers are mentioned in the short story “The Visitor” by Vasily Shukshin,

The painting features a close-up view of blooming sunflowers, with bees collecting nectar from the flowers. The image is dominated by the yellow color, which is bright, sunny, and optimistic, creating a joyful mood. The lively golden shades of yellow and the use of quick brushstrokes create a warm and heart-touching scene. Ivan Popov painted sunflowers many times throughout his career, using various techniques. The All-Russian Shukshin Memorial Museum-Reserve houses two other artworks featuring sunflowers — “A Small Sunflower” painted in 1991 and “Morning in Srostki”, a later work created in 2001. These paintings share a common theme of morning joy, warm sunlight, and the nice feeling of being close to home.

In the mid-1980s, Ivan Popov started searching for new expressive means in his art. He was also looking for a new style in oil painting. He attempted to work with broad and bold brushstrokes, using the impasto technique. The landscapes and portraits from this period were more dynamic and expressive, while the subjects remained the same. He depicted life in the countryside, the beautiful nature around his home village, and the fate of ordinary hardworking people.