Masterpieces of Russian painters: a description of Shishkin's painting “Winter”

The Russian landscape has always been the subject of admiration and admiration for true connoisseurs and admirers of the beauties of nature. Unassuming charm, subtle psychologism, vibrant soft colors, proud power - all this attracts those who understand and feel the beautiful. I. I. Shishkin was one of the largest landscape painters who glorified birch glades under the summer morning sun, golden autumn leaves in the fresh wind, winter freshness and frosty purity.

Winter masterpiece

Description of Shishkin’s painting “Winter” will begin with a definition of the overall color and mood of the work. From the canvas it blows with cold calm, pacification, winter festive mood. In the foreground is a snow-covered meadow. Apparently, a storm passed not so long ago. She smashed dry or weak trees that lay down on frozen ground. The snow covered everything around with high snowdrifts, under which the fallen trunks are drawn. Twigs and branches stick out from under them, sharply blackening on a white background. Continuing the description of Shishkin’s painting “Winter,” let us pay attention to how snow is textured, realistic. We can make out every hole, every knoll. I just want to reach out and touch it, feel a slight tingling of the frost under the fingers. In the center of the picture, near the lying trunks, in small fur coats are small Christmas trees. They were not affected by the storm, and the snow covering them would reliably protect against frost and other winter attacks. And in the spring, when everything melts, nature will shake from its numbness and joyfully stretch towards the sun, the Christmas trees will lightly shake their paws and will go racing against each other. The same friendly spruce family in a picturesque outfit rises to the right of the kids. Let's move the description of Shishkin’s painting “Winter” a little to the left. Tall bushes, perhaps of rose hips, are picturesquely spread there. Their frosty branches clearly loom against the backdrop of dark trees growing in the neighborhood. And around, wherever you look, proud slender pine trees rise. Closer to the viewer, their bark acquires a warm reddish tint.The same light pink glow lies around on all objects. And even the snow casts red. Apparently, Shishkin describes nature at the end of the day, when the sun slowly sets over the horizon, and a wonderful winter sunset begins to gain strength. Description of Shishkin’s painting “Winter” makes you pay special attention to the background of the painting. Pines go into the distance, into perspective, and we understand that the forest is spread far, where there is enough sight, for many kilometers. What is remarkable in the picture is that every detail, every object is written out very carefully, very accurately, vitally. We can not only see the shades of the white winter sky, low and cold, but also seem to touch the rough bark, breathe in the so recognizable, unforgettable, delicious aroma of this amazing season. The author of the work is a romantic who praises nature, knows how to live its life. And a realist for whom accuracy, truthfulness in big and small is important. Shishkin’s painting “Winter” in this sense is an excellent example of how an expert on the Russian flora, an exact master, was an artist.Another great feature of talent is drawing without embellishment, without “smoothing” fabrications. The landscape of Shishkin, any, is exactly the same as it really is. The master does not try to portray him better, more interesting, more attractive than in reality. However, the soul of nature, powerful and reverent, its Russian character, is precisely revealed in all its glory precisely thanks to this truthfulness. The artist of "perfect reality" was called contemporaries Shishkin. “Winter” is one of his best paintings. Although the entire pictorial heritage of the master is included in the golden fund of Russian art.

Thanks to Ivan Shishkin for a great tour of the snowy forest!