The artist created one of his very first still lifes in 1936. And throughout his career, this genre was one of his most beloved.
Andrei Ilyich preserved his characteristic tendency for large-format still-life paintings in the later period of his life. In 1994, when he was 78 years old, he painted lilacs for the umpteenth time. This still life is bright, fresh and joyful, like the month of May that meant a lot to him, filled with the aroma of growing lilies of the valley, blooming colorful lilacs, bouquets of tulips, bright sunlight, the memory of the Great Victory, meetings of veterans; a month which opens a door for selfless working in the open air.
A large bouquet with spreading clusters of lavender and white lilacs stands in a crystal white vase, brightly flashing red tulips and green foliage are among them. Lilacs were painted by Claude Monet and Van Gogh, ‘winged’ lilacs were painted by Pyotr Konchalovsky and Boris Kustodiev. Igor Severyanin called himself the ‘Prince of the Purple Lilac’.
Poet Elena Mikhalchenko writes:
My breath fills with a magic aroma
With lilac along the houses,
That looks like foam lines.
Flowers of all shades from fairytale dreams…
It is a sign that spring is meeting summer already!
A smaller bouquet with delicate lilies of the valley peeks out of a small transparent vase with jagged edges. They stand side by side on a round table with oranges and green apples in plain glass, a couple of ‘started’ pomegranates and a porcelain tea set with bluish painting and overflows of gilded decor, standing on and near a round tray. This tea-set is now on display at the Artist’s Memorial Workshop.
A white handmade tablecloth, which was still quite a lot in the houses of Oryol residents those years, gives the interior a special comfort, filling it with soft light, bringing a festive mood into the picture. The bluish drapery that serves as a background reminds of a clear sky, fresh air, a wonderful world existing behind these walls. The artist does not draw out points and details clearly, but only outlines them with quick, confident, slightly sketchy strokes. But it seems that it happens due to the light spreading after the long hazy days of winter and early spring, from the long-awaited warm rays of bright light, from which we just slightly squint our eyes. One can only admire such skill, vitality and energy of an artist who is already losing clarity of vision, feasting an eye on of his best still life compositions.
Andrei Ilyich preserved his characteristic tendency for large-format still-life paintings in the later period of his life. In 1994, when he was 78 years old, he painted lilacs for the umpteenth time. This still life is bright, fresh and joyful, like the month of May that meant a lot to him, filled with the aroma of growing lilies of the valley, blooming colorful lilacs, bouquets of tulips, bright sunlight, the memory of the Great Victory, meetings of veterans; a month which opens a door for selfless working in the open air.
A large bouquet with spreading clusters of lavender and white lilacs stands in a crystal white vase, brightly flashing red tulips and green foliage are among them. Lilacs were painted by Claude Monet and Van Gogh, ‘winged’ lilacs were painted by Pyotr Konchalovsky and Boris Kustodiev. Igor Severyanin called himself the ‘Prince of the Purple Lilac’.
Poet Elena Mikhalchenko writes:
My breath fills with a magic aroma
With lilac along the houses,
That looks like foam lines.
Flowers of all shades from fairytale dreams…
It is a sign that spring is meeting summer already!
A smaller bouquet with delicate lilies of the valley peeks out of a small transparent vase with jagged edges. They stand side by side on a round table with oranges and green apples in plain glass, a couple of ‘started’ pomegranates and a porcelain tea set with bluish painting and overflows of gilded decor, standing on and near a round tray. This tea-set is now on display at the Artist’s Memorial Workshop.
A white handmade tablecloth, which was still quite a lot in the houses of Oryol residents those years, gives the interior a special comfort, filling it with soft light, bringing a festive mood into the picture. The bluish drapery that serves as a background reminds of a clear sky, fresh air, a wonderful world existing behind these walls. The artist does not draw out points and details clearly, but only outlines them with quick, confident, slightly sketchy strokes. But it seems that it happens due to the light spreading after the long hazy days of winter and early spring, from the long-awaited warm rays of bright light, from which we just slightly squint our eyes. One can only admire such skill, vitality and energy of an artist who is already losing clarity of vision, feasting an eye on of his best still life compositions.
