The picture by Alexander Borisov shown here is somewhat unusual: it represents a common summer forest, while his main motif is northern scenery, snow-covered plains and woods. This picture was inspired by Borisov’s mentor Ivan Shishkin, a famous Russian landscape painter, often referred to as “patriarch of the forest”. For the first two years of his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts, Borisov attended Shishkin’s workshop. Later, he joined the landscape studio headed by Arkhip Kuindzhi. It was Shishkin who taught Borisov to be a meticulous draftsman, paying a lot of attention to the details. Shishkin was known as a strict and demanding professor. During the training in his class, the young artist worked patiently, cutting off all the distractions.

Shishkin used to say: ‘You don’t need theories or useless reflections to become a real painter. All you need is to yield to life.’ In his classes, he stuck firmly to this concept. An expert and admirer of nature, Shishkin was able to depict it faithfully in his paintings, drawings and etchings. In his workshop, the students had to paint photo landscapes in the winter and open-air landscapes in the summer. The prominent artist instructed his students to study life carefully, and taught them how to create “portraits of nature”.

Shishkin placed great emphasis on the drawing. For him, it wasn’t just a preliminary stage of painting, but a self-sufficient work of art. Borisov studied diligently his teacher’s method, and eventually his canvases became similar to those of Shishkin. During the summer, when unable to go to the North, Borisov stayed in the country house provided by the Academia, studying life dutifully.

The picture Old forest in the Summer illustrates the period of Shishkin’s influence in Borisov’s career. Here, Borisov appears as a true follower of the famous landscape painter, depicting all the minor details: grass, leaves, moss. His own character is not yet revealed, but his scrupulous studies of nature and his love for the native land is clearly seen. Borisov’s work will always be characterised by careful observation of nature and Shishkin’s influence.