On July 22, 1900, at the age of 39, the Russian artist Isaac Ilyich Levitan passed away. A talented person and an exceptional personality. Vulnerable, sensitive to criticism and prone to respond painfully to it.
Immensely respecting people, he worried when he did not receive the proper reaction in response. And as a result - disappointment in people, in friendship and loneliness. And the disease.
It is no coincidence that over the years of life a family did not form, children were not born. All his talent, love, high feelings spilled out onto the canvas, where majestic landscapes conveyed the mood of the artist and his aspirations. We present the 10 most famous paintings of Levitan with photos, descriptions and names.
10. Twilight
Stacks. The painting was painted in 1899. Included in the exposition of the Tretyakov Gallery.
Fairy-tale time of day - dusk. They are enough for a very small period of time, after sunset and before dawn. The earth is illuminated by the diffused light of the moon. Unevenly. Alarming
Last day has already gone down in history. The present has not yet arrived. Stacks are standing. From the field there is a minty smell of mowed grass. The feeling of well-deserved rest comes from recently sour stacks.
Everything is extremely simple on canvas and understandable. The artist’s use of the light-absorbing properties of dark tones and the reflective properties of light tones make the image of the Moon the manager of night magic on canvas.
9. Above eternal peace
Picture Over eternal rest written in 1894. At first glance, the canvas begins to take your breath away from the vast space depicted on it.
And in the foreground is an abandoned cemetery and a temple, behind which, in fact, is a graveyard. Is there any mention on the graves of those who are buried in these places - it remains only to guess.
There is a lot of gray on canvas. Feels that it is he who creates the dreary mood, longing, sorrow and sadness. Hopelessly tragic flavor. The sky is in solidarity with the earth, it is as if outraged about undeservedly forgotten people. It seems that the artist "screams" in pain for this "eternal peace." For oblivion.
According to the memoirs of contemporaries, the artist, working on the canvas, listened to Beethoven’s music, which, of course, reinforced the dramatic mood of the picture. The church dome with a cross is completely inconspicuous. It is like a spiritual beacon, giving direction to the souls of both living and those who have left this earth.
8. The lake
Russia. It was written in the years 1890-1900. The last monumental work of the artist. Picture Lake painstakingly composed of many sketches and sketches. Currently on display at the Russian Museum.
The viewer, as it were, moves along the calm surface of the lake. And, as he moves forward, another shore opens before his gaze, where the village is located, plowed land.
Everything around is alive and breathing life: reeds and clouds, which either thicken or stretch into a chain and go beyond the horizon.
The depicted places are so familiar to the Russian man, so close and dear to him that they awaken in the soul bright feelings of joy for the fact that he was born in this wonderful land.
7. Spring
Big water. Picture Spring written in 1897. It is stored in the Tretyakov Gallery.
In the picture, the season is spring. Mass snowmelt has already occurred. The viewer sees the spill of the river when the coastal area eroded, and trees and wooden buildings began to go under the water.
This is probably the first riot in nature. Indeed, otherwise, a person would have managed to save their homes. But there is no sense of disaster. Spring is coming! Spring road! Water will leave the water meadows, fertilize the soil. And life will break out with a new, inevitable force.
A contrasting combination of different shades of blue conveys a sense of vastness, the wondrous depth of the sky. Through the transparency of the air pouring solar streams, warming the earth.
It seems that the artist, filling every part of the still life, himself admires the created moments and gives the viewer the joy of belonging to the celebration of life, a piece of which is imprinted in his creation.
6. Golden autumn
Real landscape Golden autumn written in 1889. It is an artistic value of the Russian Museum.
In the picture, the viewer sees the place of Ples. Volga region. The most beautiful places captured by the master at the time of autumn. Perhaps there were already the first matinees that urgently forced the trees to change into gilded clothes.
Fields have not yet been harvested, people are in no hurry to harvest in the hope that in recent days they will have time to replenish bins. But winter is at hand. The crimson-yellow foliage warns that there is one strong gust of wind, and snow covers of winter will replace the riot of autumn colors. As in life.
The cyclicality of periods is necessary in order to make a person rethink what has been lived and draw conclusions for the future.
5. After the rain
Ples. The viewer could see the picture After the rain as early as 1889.
On the canvas is the Volga. Broad, generous. In the background is a town quite wealthy. It towers the dome of the temple, two-story skyscrapers. Closer to the river in a row Logs for rafting are stacked.
The feeling of interrupted brisk work on a small pier. Bad in heavy rain was the one on the steamboat walking along the river. Although the rain has passed, the weather is still drizzling. Water droplets ring in the air. Although the light really breaks through the densely closed clouds.
4. Evening ringing
Picture evening call, evening Bell written in 1892. It is currently the property of the Tretyakov Gallery.
The canvas depicts two shores. Near shore - gloomy, dark. Across the expanse of the river, the other bank is bright wherever the viewer casts his eyes. As if a small piece of land was consecrated by the light emanating from the temple, lush greenery, delicate pink-purple clouds.
A boat filled with people is moving in the center of the river. As soon as a small vessel approaches the shore, they will set foot on the wide road leading to the temple.
This path is not easy. From a narrow path of purely material values, the daredevils embarked on a journey along the river to the light of spiritual rebirth.
It is a complete feeling that the viewer hears the gentle bell chime pouring from the belfry of the temples.
3. March
Picture March written in 1895. It is stored in the famous Tretyakov Gallery.
According to the preserved memories of the artist’s contemporaries, the viewer knows that Isaac Levitan did not like winter. He was more inspired by the transitions of the seasons. Rebel in nature, when one season is replaced by the outgoing one, which, in turn, does not want to part with its rights, is described very convincingly in this picture.
Sparkling snow on a sunny clear day with a thick crust lies everywhere. And beneath it, streams invisible so far are already beginning to awaken.
A little bit the path to the landowner's house became visible. Here is a tired horse, eagerly inhaling the warm, fragrant air of an awakening nature. A spring day is short, but the bird family has already populated a birdhouse, which means the day will be awakened by a morning trill.
2. Quiet abode
Quiet abode - year of writing - 1890. The Volga River and the Volga cloister. The peaceful measured life of Christian temples on the other side. No one and nothing violates their peace.
Light ripples of the river surface, in which the poppies of churches are reflected. A person who comes to God is pacified and calm. Heavenly Father took him under his protection and protects him. And if the path of life is difficult, he will take it in his hands.
The road from coast to coast runs along a shaky dangerous bridge. The longer a person lives, the fewer and fewer things in his life that have real value, or this value deteriorates as quickly as this collapsing crossing.
1. Birch grove
Famous picture Birch Grove written in 1889. If the picture “March” was completed in several stages, it took four years to complete this work.
In front of the viewer a "round dance" of birches. White-barrel beauties. Slender, with thin long branches, a spreading crown.
Dressed in sticky foliage of green saturated and expressive color. Surrounded by a gentle breeze of shades of green from light to very dark. The play of light and shadow.
Sunny bunnies playfully shining in the foliage create a bright, cheerful mood of the picture. The color combinations chosen by the artist give a feeling of warmth and light.