Russian art is very rich in talented artists. Aivazovsky, Repin, Shishkin, Chagall - these names are familiar to lovers of painting around the world. But it happens that a picture becomes more popular than its creator. A person may not know the name of the author, but the image is familiar to him literally from birth. The following is a list of the most famous paintings of Russian artists who have long been part of the global heritage.
"Morning in a Pine Forest", Ivan Shishkin
The painting âMorning in a Pine Forestâ presented in the reproductions above was painted by Ivan Shishkin in 1889. This is his collaboration with Konstantin Savitsky, who wrote all the bears according to the authorâs sketch. Initially, the paintings even had the signatures of both artists, but Pavel Tretyakov erased the second signature after acquiring the canvas.
A magnificent landscape with animals from childhood is familiar to every resident of Russia - from the beginning of the 20th century, a reproduction of the painting appeared on a wrapper of sweets "Bear-toed", becoming the first element of mass culture in Russian history. The amazing liveliness of the plot, the play of light and the impressionistic plot in the academic art performance of Ivan Ivanovich remain in the memory of the viewer for life. You can see the picture "Morning in a Pine Forest" in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
"Athletes", Victor Vasnetsov
And this picture is not only one of the most famous in Russian painting, but also directly related to the traditional culture of Russia. That is why, for the viewer, âAthletesâ is a national cultural code. Viktor Vasnetsov worked on this monumental canvas for more than 20 years - from 1876 to 1898. Pavel Tretyakov bought the work for his gallery as soon as it was finished. And to this day, "Heroes" are exhibited in the Tretyakov Gallery.
From left to right, the picture depicts the main epic heroes - Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets and Alyosha Popovich. Here is how the artist himself described the picture :
Bogatyrs Dobrynya, Ilya and Aleshka Popovich at the heroâs exit - they note in the field whether there is a heap, where they offend anyone?
The splendor of the picture lies not only in the masterful performance, but also in the semantic filling - the defenders of the Russian land on their huge horses rise above the field like mountains. With this symbol, the artist wanted to depict the continuity of Russian copyright and folklore art at the turn of the century.
"Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan", Ilya Repin
Undoubtedly, one of the most famous paintings of Russian artists is a canvas entitled "Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581," better known as "Ivan the Terrible kills his son." In 1885, Ilya Repin completed the painting, depicting on it the moment of the kingâs murder of his son in a fit of anger. The work amazes the viewer with its psychological depth, the vividness of the emotions depicted - the fright of the repentant king is so natural that goosebumps run.
Like the above paintings, this work of art is stored in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
The Ninth Wave, Ivan Aivazovsky
The world-famous painting by Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky is The Ninth Wave, written in 1850. On the canvas, the viewer sees the predawn raging sea - a blazing sunrise illuminates the shipwrecked sailors, apparently, after a night storm. They look weak and tired, but continue to fight for life, but it can be seen how the biggest wave - the ninth wave - is attacking them. Talented performance and colors build a special psychology of perception - the viewer feels the experience and dynamics of what is happening in the picture.
Currently, the Ninth Wave can be seen in the St. Petersburg Russian Museum.
"Barge Haulers on the Volga", Ilya Repin
Another famous painting by Ilya Repin - "Barge Haulers on the Volga", written in 1870-1873. The creation of the artistâs canvas was prompted by the work of the barge hauls seen on the Neva. Repin was amazed that people were being harnessed like cattle. He put all his indignation at such a slavish use of people into the psychologism of the picture, which makes it look surprisingly strong. The tugboat pictured nearby hints that progress is reaching Russia, but they are not able to use it.
In addition to the semantic content, the picture is interesting by the liveliness of the image of Russian characters and types - this is manifested in clothes, faces and facial expressions, separately taken poses of barge haulers. Like the previous one, the painting "Barge Haulers on the Volga" is exhibited in the Russian Museum.
"Alyonushka", Victor Vasnetsov
Another original Russian and famous painting by Russian artist Vasnetsov - "Alyonushka" - was painted in 1881. It is known that the artist was very impressed by epic and fairy-tale stories - the paintings âThe Heroesâ, âIvan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolfâ, âThe Snow Maidenâ, âCarpet-Planeâ and many others confirm this. The painting depicts a Russian orphan girl, straight-haired, somewhat holy fool, sitting by the water with a face full of unspeakable longing. She did not think of it as an illustration for the fairy tale about her sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka, who turned into a kid, but was subsequently connected by the audience, and then by the artist himself, with her. Here is what Viktor Vasnetsov said about the work:
Alyonushka seemed to have lived in my head for a long time, but in reality I saw her in Akhtyrka when I met one straight-haired girl that struck my imagination. There was so much melancholy, loneliness and purely Russian sadness in her eyes ... A kind of special Russian spirit blew from her.
You can see "Alyonushka" in the Tretyakov Gallery.
"Girl with Peaches", Valentin Serov
One of the earliest and most famous works of the artist Valentin Serov is âGirl with Peachesâ. This is the most outstanding canvas in the style of Russian impressionism. The artist painted in 1887, at the age of 22. He was posed by 12-year-old Vera Mamontova, the daughter of the owner of the estate, in which the artist often visited for a long time that summer. One day Vera ran into the dining room and, sitting down at the table, grabbed a fresh peach. This moment seemed wonderful to the artist, and since then, for almost two months, the girl posed for Serov every day in the same place. Surprisingly, the picture does not look like the fruit of long work - it is so fresh and momentary that it is most comparable to photography. Here is how the artist spoke about this work:
All that I achieved was freshness, that special freshness that you always feel in kind and cannot be seen in paintings. I wrote for more than a month and tormented her, poor, to death, I really wanted to preserve the freshness of the painting when it was completely finished, like old masters.
Everyone who wants to see the painting should visit the Tretyakov Gallery, where Serovâs painting âGirl with Peachesâ is located.
The Unknown, Ivan Kramskoy
A great celebrity is the painting by Ivan Kramskoy "Unknown", written in 1883. The special perception of the picture is due to the name - it turns it into something between a portrait and a thematic canvas. It is curious that nowhere in the documents and works of the artist was information not found that would establish the identity of the woman depicted.
The viewer is attracted by the momentary picture. One gets the impression that the artist really managed to write a woman who, for a second, stopped next to him in her open carriage. She looks down, arrogant and slightly sad, the image of the Unknown reflects the artistâs personal attitude to her heroine - as if he is in a slight awe in front of her. The action takes place in St. Petersburg - this is understandable from the buildings of the Anichkov Palace and the Alexandrinsky Theater.
Currently, the most famous painting by Ivan Kramskoy is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery.
"Above the City," Marc Chagall
One of the most famous paintings of Russian artists, of course, is the work of Marc Chagall "Over the City", completed in 1918. Perhaps this is one of the most famous paintings of the world of picturesque avant-garde, and the most famous in Russian avant-garde. In the picture - a literal image of the expression "soar with happiness" or "fly on the wings of love." Chagall wrote himself and his beloved wife, the main muse of his life, Bella Chagall. Interestingly, in 1914, when Mark Zakharovich was just starting work on the canvas, this woman was not even his bride - but he knew her and sincerely loved. In the picture, lovers, hugging, soar above the city of Vitebsk - the second love of the artist after Bella. By the way, flying is a favorite theme of the artist, and he repeatedly portrayed himself and his wife flying over the city or under the ceiling of the room, as well as other flying figures - women, animals, musicians.
You can see the picture, like most of the most famous paintings, in the Tretyakov Gallery.
The Black Square, Kazimir Malevich
So many conjectures, legends and assumptions are connected with the description of the famous painting by the Russian artist Kazimir Malevich "Black Square" that it is almost impossible to get to the bottom of the truth. But the fact remains - this work is the most famous painting of the Russian author in the world. Not a single picture in the world has caused as much controversy as Black Square.
Kazimir Malevich created his revolutionary work in 1915, and then it was part of the triptych, which also contained the Black Cross and Black Circle. But it was the âsquare" that the artist declared the center of the Suprematist (highest, dominant) system of painting, which he himself had invented. Quote from the book of art critic Irina Karasik "The Adventures of the Black Square":
There is probably no picture in the history of world art with a louder fame than the "Black Square" by Kazimir Malevich, there is no work that caused the appearance of so many other works, there is no artifact that has such enduring relevance.
"Black Square" is exhibited in the Tretyakov Gallery.