The Iskitim Museum of Arts and History houses a painting “A Willow from Childhood” by Ivan Petrovich Popov.

Two talented cousins, Ivan Popov and Vasily Shukshin, spent their childhood in the old village of Srostki, situated between the Chuya Highway and the Katun River. The two had a lot in common. They shared not only happy memories such as trips to lakes, fishing, and long conversations but also life’s difficulties. Both lost their fathers at an early age and bore the responsibility of being the eldest men in their families. In fact, they even shared the same surname for a long time. Vasily Shukshin was known as Vasily Popov until he took the name of his late father at the age of 18. The memories of their childhood were “interwoven like threads of needle lace.” All these moments of childish joy, happiness, and love for their home were later reflected in the art of both Vasily Shukshin and Ivan Popov.

Ivan Popov’s painting “A Willow from Childhood” is a wonderful image from a distant land of joyful childhood memories. The artist depicted a strong and sturdy tree that one could climb and hide in the foliage. Its crown split into large branches with many convenient spots to sit on. In summer, the willow provided shade, and all the local children gathered under its branches to organize spontaneous festivals filled with carefree joy. Vasily Shukshin wrote, “Oh, what holidays they were! (I keep exclaiming here ‘Happiness, Joy! Holidays! ’ But it’s true — it was like that. Maybe that’s because it was childhood. But also, I guess now, that in the difficult, bitter times of our lives we experience joy — be it a small joy or a rare joy — more keenly, more purely.) These were the holidays that I have cherished all my life afterward, the holidays that themselves grow in endearment throughout the years. There have been no better holidays since.”

The museum curators have not been able to determine the exact location of the willow. However, it is certainly associated with many wonderful childhood memories shared by Ivan Popov and Vasily Shukshin.