The artist Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov stood at the origins of the new, Soviet pictorial art. His brush belongs to many official, "ceremonial" and informal, "everyday" portraits of the leaders of the first persons of the state, including Lenin and Stalin, representatives of the Bolshevik, communist intelligentsia. He captured the most important events in the life of the country - the launch of the metro station, the round date of the celebration of the October Revolution. Multiple Stalin Prize laureate, awarded with medals and orders, including the Order of Lenin, Honored Artist, First President of the Academy of Arts, Alexander Mikhailovich at the same time considered these works to be the main ones in his work. His dearest brainchild was a small canvas, very simple in plot, in which, however, the true soul of the great Artist, the Master, was reflected.
Wet Terrace
This is Gerasimov’s painting “After the Rain”, the second name of which is “Wet Terrace”. It is known to every student of a generation that has been included in the school curriculum as a teaching aid for writing essays. Reproductions from the canvas are placed in Russian language textbooks for grades 6–7 (different editions). Gerasimov’s picture “After the Rain” is in one of the exhibition halls of the Tretyakov Gallery. It is painted in oil on canvas, the size of the work is small - 78 by 85 cm. Spectators invariably crowd in front of the canvas, carefully peer into the details, study, admire, absorb it.
Best creations
In Soviet painting, especially in the first half of the 20th century, there are very few works of this type, like Gerasimov's painting “After the Rain”. Subtle lyricism, surprisingly accurate transmission of a poetically clean, fresh atmosphere of summer nature, washed by rain, rich color, special energy - all this makes the artist’s work very special. No wonder the master of her and only considered her his best creation. Time has confirmed the prioritization. Of course, the bright talent of the author is clearly demonstrated in his other works. But it was Gerasimov’s picture “After the Rain” that survived ideological storms and debates and turned out to be timeless, politicized art, proving its true aesthetic value.
Creating a masterpiece
Let's fast forward to the distant year of 1935. What happens at this time in the USSR? Firstly, the 7th Congress of Soviets, significant for important government decisions. The congress of drummers-collective farmers, at which the laboring peasantry reports to the government on fidelity to the chosen course. The movement of multi-station weavers begins. The first line of the Moscow metro is being launched. Being in the midst of events, Gerasimov responds to them with bright, original creativity. By 1935, he was promoted to the forefront of the best masters of socialist painting. However, the artist more and more clearly feels a certain mental breakdown, fatigue and a desire to abandon everything and go home, to the distant provincial town of Kozlov, which in the Tambov region is to relax.
There, Gerasimov’s painting “After the Rain” was painted. The story of the creation of the masterpiece came to us in the memories of his sister. The artist was delighted with the completely transformed garden after a heavy downpour, the wet terrace, sparkling like a mirror, the unusual freshness and fragrance of the air, the most unusual atmosphere prevailing in nature. In feverish impatience, having taken up the palette, Alexander Mikhailovich in one breath, in just 3 hours, wrote a canvas, which was included in the gold fund of Russian and Soviet landscape painting.
Getting to the analysis of the work (element of the lesson)
As already mentioned, the picture of Gerasimov “After the Rain” is understood in the school course. An essay on it helps to develop coherent writing skills, students' creative abilities, and contributes to the formation of an aesthetic taste and a subtle perception of nature. Let us join the wonderful canvas. In what year Gerasimov’s painting “After the Rain” was written, we already know - in 1935, in the summer. In the foreground we see a corner of a wooden terrace. It glistens dazzlingly, as if carefully polished and varnished. The strongest summer rain has just ended. Nature has not yet had time to recover, all is alarmed and disheveled, and the last drops are still no, no, and they break with a booming knock on wooden floorboards. Dark brown, with standing puddles, they reflect every object like a mirror. The breaking sun leaves its warm golden reflections on the floor.
Foreground
What is the unusual picture of Gerasimov's "After the Rain"? Description of the canvas is difficult to do in parts, fragments. It impresses the viewer as a whole. Every detail of Gerasimov’s work is significant and harmonious. Here is the railing and bench. Closer to the inside of the veranda they are darker, since this part of the terrace is less lit. But there, where there is still a rare sun, there are more and more golden glare, and the color of the tree itself is warm, tan.
To the left of the viewer on the terrace is a table on elegant carved legs. The figured countertop, dark in itself, seems completely black because the wood is wet. Like everything around, it flashes in a mirror, reflecting both an inverted glass, and a jug with a bouquet, and the sky, which is increasingly brightening after a thunderstorm. Why did the artist need this piece of furniture? It organically fits into the environment, without it the terrace would be empty, giving the impression of an uninhabited, uncomfortable. The table brings into the picture a hint of a friendly family, hospitable tea parties, a joyful, cordial atmosphere. A glass cup turned upside down and miraculously did not fall indicates how strong the wind and rain were. Disheveled flowers in a bouquet, scattered petals hint at the same thing. White, red and pink roses look especially touching and defenseless. But we can imagine how sweet and gentle they smell now, washed by the rain. This jug and roses in it look unusually poetic.
Background of the picture
And outside the terrace, the garden roars and rages. Raindrops still roll down from the wet leaves with still large beads. It is clean, dark green, bright, fresh, which happens only after a refreshing shower. Looking at the picture, you begin to very distinctly smell the heady smell of wet greenery and the sun-heated earth, flowers from the garden and something else very dear, close, dear, for which we love nature. Behind the trees is visible the roof of the barn, in the gaps of the branches - a sky whitening, brightening after a thunderstorm. We feel lightness, enlightenment, the joy of being, admiring the wonderful work of Gerasimov. And we learn to be attentive to nature, to love it, to notice amazing charm.