Konstantin Ivanovich Mazin (1874–1947), a member of the Artists’ Union, teacher and painter, was born in Astrakhan. He studied in St. Petersburg, under the prominent professor Alexander Alexandrovich Kiselyov. Academician Kiselyov was an active participant in the work of the Society for Travelling Art Exhibitions, often traveled to different places around the country to paint studies, and was engaged in teaching activities.

Konstantin Mazin first came to Mstyora in 1903, when he was painting studies for his graduation work “Spring”. The surroundings of Mstyora with its wide-open spaces, rivers, and picturesque landscapes impressed Mazin, and in 1920 he moved to live in the village. He settled in an ordinary wooden house, continued teaching and created many paintings and studies dedicated to his beloved village. Among them are the works “Slobodka”, “Tara”, and “View of Mstyora”.

The Mstyora Art Museum houses several works by Konstantin Mazin, as well as his portrait painted by Fyodor Modorov. Mazin completed the study “Winter Evening” in 1946. With great love, the artist conveyed on the canvas the beauty of the Mstyora land — the view of the village outskirts with a beautiful winter sunset. Along a well-traveled pathway to the village, three carts loaded with hay are being driven uphill, past the barn. The edge of the village, buried in deep snow, seems quiet, peaceful, ready for the night. Hence, the carters are in a hurry to return home, driving the horses harnessed to the carts.

The village, and beyond it the field and the woodland are illuminated by the rays of the setting cold winter sun. It casts the last pink rays on the distant fields with haystacks dusted with soft snow. Below the mountain, a small river is bound by gray ice. These are frosty winter days. Frozen birch trees are flooded with sunlight. There is a large green fir tree in the background. Dusk is falling rapidly, and bluish shadows on the snow follow behind the carts.

Konstantin Mazin worked as a teacher for over 40 years. He raised many accomplished professional masters of lacquer miniature and landscape painting.