Russian landscape painters have always been distinguished by a special reverent attitude towards their native nature. Their paintings are full of tender admiring, subtle psychologism, the ability to convey the essence of national color. A worthy example of such skill is the work of I.I. Shishkin.
The story of the creation of the picture
Shishkin’s painting “Morning in a Pine Forest” was exhibited at the Tretyakov Gallery in 1889. She became the fruit of the joint work of Ivan Ivanovich and another famous artist - Konstantin Apollonovich Savitsky, the author of genre works. More precisely, Savitsky inscribed only the figures of bears. And although they turned out to be very lively, realistic, harmoniously fit into the general content, Shishkin's painting “Morning in a Pine Forest” is nevertheless connected with this artist. Initially, both authors signed the painting, but Tretyakov himself, who acquired it, erased Savitsky’s painting. He explained his action by the fact that both the design of the work, and the creative manner, style, and craftsmanship — in everything Ivan Ivanovich’s hand is felt. In this regard, Shishkin’s painting “Morning in a Pine Forest” is an integral part of his heritage. And the very action of the work takes place in the Russian outback, in the vicinity of Seliger Lake of the then Tver province. The island of Gorodomlya, standing here, attracted lovers of virgin nature with its dense
coniferous forests, in which centuries-old majestic pine trees rose proudly, and various animals were found. At the end of the 90s of the 19th century, Ivan Ivanovich also visited etudes. Shishkin’s painting “Morning in a Pine Forest”, like his other canvas, which became another of his visiting cards, “Ship Grove”, was later written on the basis of these walks.
The plot of the picture
Let’s try to figure out what the work of interest to us is. What is the secret of such a huge popularity and universal recognition? Probably, first of all, that Shishkin designed his “Morning in a Pine Forest” not as a standard landscape, but managed to perfectly express the state of nature, convey her soul, her life. The forest is depicted in the picture so that it seems that you can smell the needles, touch the rough bark of the tree, hear the rustle of the breeze and the crackle of branches under the weight of the bear cubs playing, their cheerful rumbling. The light dampness of the morning fog, the first timid warmth of the rays breaking through the trees, the depth of the ravine, the might of the pines - all this is so visible, realistic that we ourselves are invisibly present. Therefore, when you contemplate “Morning in a pine forest”, you want to make a description of the picture as if you were talking about the objects that surround you, which you see firsthand. This proves the truth of the statement about the artist’s creative method: "He was a convinced realist, passionately loving and feeling nature."
Description of the picture
The painting depicts a dense corner of the forest. In the center of it, three cubs frolic in a pine tree broken by a storm. Two climbed onto a trunk sticking out above the ground, a third stands nearby, on a fallen log. The bear came up to this picturesque, full of dynamics group, strictly observing its offspring and menacingly pecking at the excessively mischievous babies. Full of movement and the surrounding forest. In its depths, in a lowland, fog swirls. The sun's rays cover the tops and branches of the mighty pine trees with pink and gilding. The forest wakes up, filled with sounds, movement. His daily life begins. So the canvas was created, which became one of the symbols of Russia.