Vasnetsov's paintings are known to everyone, but few people know that their creation was the result of a complex internal struggle of the author. The community of Wanderers, to which he belonged, promoted the acutely social orientation of subjects for genre paintings. Vasnetsov, on the other hand, was completely captured by the fabulous theme. It was necessary to decide in which direction to move on. These experiences largely resulted in the picture "The Knight at the Crossroads."
A groundbreaking genre in painting
It should be noted that having chosen the path of a storyteller, Vasnetsov was an innovator in this field. One can hardly name the name of another painter, who so devotedly devoted himself to the Russian epic antiquity.
Description of the painting "The Knight at the Crossroads" should begin with a story about a small pencil sketch made by the master in the very beginning of the seventies. Then his plot of Russian epic about Ilya Muromets and robbers took possession of his imagination. Subsequently, this theme was developed by the author in several watercolors and oil paintings.
The first finished painting appeared in 1877 and was called "Warrior in a helmet with chain mail." It is curious that the brother of the artist Arkady posed for the figure of a warrior. Gradually, with each new work, the composition of the picture begins to emerge, where the horse knight stopped in front of the “stone-thing” on which his fate is inscribed.
In 1877, the first version of the work was completed and a year later it was presented to the public at the next exhibition. The reception was quite warm. Description of the painting "The Knight at the Crossroads" and benevolent reviews appeared in many newspapers and magazines.
Order of Savva Mamontov
The final version of the picture, the one that can now be seen in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, was painted in 1882 specifically for the collection of the famous philanthropist and creator of the private opera Savva Mamontov. Vasnetsov took part in creating the scenery for his productions more than once. “The Knight at the Crossroads”, the description of which and enthusiastic reviews became known to Mamontov, aroused the desire to have a picture in his collection. Fulfilling the order, Vasnetsov significantly changed the composition of the early version. Initially, the hero was facing the viewer. In the final version of the picture, the author unfolded it, hiding his face. In addition, the size of the canvas was increased, which gave the canvas great monumentality. The landscape has also changed.
Description of the artwork “The Knight at the Crossroads”
In the early version there was a road in front of the hero, in the final - only a field. This decision gave the picture more emotionality. Everything in it says, as it were, that there is no other way than indicated on the stone. The image of ravens and bones scattered in the grass gives the impression of fatality and persistence of rock. In the foreground, the author placed the remains of a horse and a man, indicating that there were already daredevils, but they laid down their lush little heads in the ground. The general tension is complemented by a bloody gleam of sunset. Even the water depicted in the distance is associated with a dead swamp.
By expanding the figure of the horseman, the artist thereby directed the viewer's attention to the predictor stone. It is the inscription inscribed on it that becomes the key moment of the whole picture. It should be noted that of the three inscriptions mentioned in the epic, Vasnetsov left only one, threatening death to the one who will go straight. By this he seems to exclude other options for the path. The horse figure is expressively written. He bowed his head to the ground, as if he was also lost in thought.
There is another significant detail, without which the description of the picture would not be complete. The hero stands at a crossroads, armed with a spear. But this is a spear of a pedestrian war, not a cavalryman. There are differences between them. What does this mean? Most likely, the readiness to fight on foot and on horseback, so that, having lost a horse, not to lose a victory.
The idea of the picture is the choice of the path in life
The question of choosing a path in a person’s life is filled with an epic sound in Vasnetsov’s picture. The emphasis is exclusively on self-determination of personality. Everything depends only on free choice, on the will of everyone. Which way to choose? Go ahead, risking everything, and even your own life, or turn aside and choose an easier road? But in this case, everything is filled with extreme drama. The absence of living characters, except for the ominous ravens - symbols of near death, and the general tension of the picture make it clear that there is no hope, a tragic outcome is inevitable.