The ideological mastermind behind the creation of the Artel of Artists, one of the founders of the Society of Wanderers, Ivan Kramskoy is one of the outstanding artists of the mid-19th century. His work is inextricably linked with Russia. He lived only half a century, but during this time he managed to create significant works that became a breakthrough in the visual arts. His contribution to the society of the Wanderers is invaluable, since for the first time in Russia ordinary people were able to see the paintings of modern artists, among which were Kramskoy's paintings.
The most outstanding paintings of Kramskoy:
1
Mermaids (1871)
The works of Gogol N.V. made a great impression on Kramskoy. The story "May Night" inspired the artist to write a large canvas. In fact, the picture cannot be called an illustration for the story. Most likely, this is a fantasy on the mysterious work and its heroes - mermaids and various evil spirits.
Kramskoy managed to catch the cold, yellowish-blue rays of the night luminary. In the distance, behind the bushes and trees you can see the farm. The full moon illuminates the riverbank. The branches of the fallen wattle cast terrible clumsy shadows, the waters of the river are dark and gloomy. Creepy female figures in white shirts, leaving the water, scattered along the shore. They are sad and deeply unhappy. The dark forces turned the drowned girls into mermaids.
Kramskoy very scrupulously approached the writing of this picture, processed it several times. And even after a time when the picture was already hanging in the Tretyakov Gallery, he asked to return it for a while to make adjustments.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru you can enjoy photos of the most beautiful mermaids.
2
Portrait of the artist K. A. Savitsky (1871)
In 1871, Kramskoy painted a portrait of his colleague in the Wanderers Society, a remarkable artist K.A. Savitsky. In this portrait, the future academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts is depicted as a young, energetic thirty-year-old man. He is handsome, smart and intelligent.
As usual, Kramskoy distinguishes the image of a person using a neutral dull background. Savitsky’s pale face shines like a precious pearl on maroon drapery velvet. His reflections are reflected in the thick wavy hair of a young man and in a neat beard. This technique allows you to carefully examine the portrait, without being distracted by the details.
There is nothing superfluous in this portrait - only smart eyes look at the viewer point-blank. So the artist looks at his model, studying it. We do not value Savitsky, he evaluates us. For Savitsky, all spectators are his potential sitters, who can become part of his plans.
3
Books Overpowered (1872)
Presumably, the painting depicts the daughter of the artist. A teenage girl with a toy in her hand is trying to read a book. Sitting comfortably on a soft sofa, the girl from the last forces holds an open book. This activity ruined her.
The child’s pose indicates that she’s about to drop a book and a toy, and will fall asleep with a sound sleep. The color of the picture is very soft, warm. A bright blush on the cheeks of the girl is emphasized by a pink dress. A red hoop in her hair, a red toy bird, a red cover - these bright accents complement the picture with warmth and homeliness.
4
The Old Man with a Crutch (1872)
Continuation of the peasant theme of Kramskoy - a portrait of "The Old Man with a Crutch." This is an outstanding portrait of a peasant, rather a sick than an old man. His fair-haired hair was messy, his old zipun was badly battered and oily. From under it is seen an old, but clean shirt and patched pants. Strong calloused hands squeeze a crutch. Probably, the person experiences pain that arose due to a spinal injury or foot disease, as a result of heavy physical labor.
But the face of the peasant does not express either pain or suffering. The old man does not look miserable. He takes his position humbly as inevitability.
5
Christ in the Desert (1872)
Already, being a famous artist, Kramskoy creates the masterpiece "Christ in the desert." This is a philosophical canvas that makes you stir up a storm of emotions in your soul. The lonely figure of Christ tormented by torment in the boundless, lifeless wilderness is a symbol of opposition to evil, a symbol of the struggle of the human soul with eternal temptations and temptations.
The artist depicted the moment of the moral choice of Christ, the willingness to sacrifice himself for the sake of humanity at Calvary. It would seem that there is a static figure among the stones, silence, and there is no hint of any movement, but the picture is full of emotions, it conveys the train of thoughts of Jesus, his spiritual struggle.
Color in the picture plays an important role. Cold tones enhance the drama of the picture. The fingers of Christ's hands tightly intertwined, like the roots of a dry plant, his face sad and thoughtful. On the horizon, a thin scarlet stripe dawns, as a symbol of a new renewal of the world. Darkness recedes and the time of light comes.
We advise you to look at our article about 10 images of Jesus, which caused heated debate in society.
6
Girl with a scythe (1873)
In the mid-19th century, it was fashionable to portray people in a state of illness or on the verge of death. These plots allowed artists to reveal the subtle nuances of a person’s state of mind during a period of extinction. “Girl with a scythe” - reveals this topic very powerfully.
Kramskoi was not interested in the social situation of man. He focused on the individual. Despite the disease, the girl is beautiful not only externally, but also spiritually. Her gaze is pierced by sadness and calm. This is one of the artist’s most beloved paintings, with which he did not part until his death.
7
Portrait of the writer Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy (1873)
This portrait of the Russian genius of literature is considered the best of all his portraits. The founder of the art gallery Pavel Tretyakov planned to compile a collection of portraits of prominent Russian figures.
The name of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was already known far beyond the borders of Russia. Tolstoy for a long time did not agree to pose for such a portrait, but Kramskoy managed to persuade him, provided that the portrait remains in the estate of the writer. Kramskoy began to paint two portraits in parallel with great pleasure.
As it was persuaded - one portrait remained in Yasnaya Polyana. The second portrait became the property of the Tretyakov Gallery.
In the portrait, Count Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy is depicted in a simple linen blue shirt. Kramskoi's talent conveyed high intelligence, power, and Tolstoy's willpower. This painting is recognized as a masterpiece and one of the best paintings of the artist.
8
Portrait of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov (1876)
Kramskoy was friends with Tretyakov, and could not help but paint his portrait. The portrait is quite simple and not intricate. Nothing extra. The viewer sees the pensive, beautiful, intelligent face of an outstanding philanthropist. The dark background allows you to focus on the personality of Tretyakov, and get to know the character of the person who opened the Tretyakov Gallery to the whole world.
9
Contemplator (1876)
Kramskoi's favorite theme was the peasants and their uncomplicated way of life. The painting "Contemplator" depicts an ordinary peasant walking on a winter trail through the forest. He wanders slowly, wrapping himself in his torn caftan. He is calm, flexible and thinks about something of his own. A plain peasant in tattered bast shoes is a contemplator of the world. He goes and his thoughts are far, far away. Who knows what they mean?
10
Moonlit Night (1880)
To paint a picture, two women posed for the artist. Anna Popova (the future wife of Mendeleev) posed first, then Elena Tretyakova (wife of the founder of the Tretyakov Gallery).
The painting depicts a young romantic woman in luxurious white clothes. She sits in the park, leaning on the back of the bench. A clear, summer moonlit night made her linger and dream on the bank of the pond.
Above the bench hang branches of a flowering shrub, water lilies modestly peek out from the pond. The night is so delightful that it seems that you hear the sound of crickets and the quiet rustle of leaves. The variety of shades of the canvas conveys the wonderful state of nature and the beauty of a young woman.
Have you read our article on the most beautiful women? If not, follow the link.
11
Mina Moses (1882)
The portrait of “Mina Moses” is a study for the painting “The Peasant with a Bridle”. It depicts an ordinary Russian peasant. At first glance, this is an old man tired of life and hunched over. But this is only at first glance. The old man is actually not so old, his tanned wrinkled face expresses kindness, natural wisdom, confidence and calm. He has a gray beard, but the hair on his head is dark, with a healthy shine.
The man is well built, strong and will live for many more years. His mischievous eyes look to the side. It is evident that facial wrinkles on the face come from a cheerful, cheerful disposition of an old man. The fettered pose of the old man, his hidden hands indicate that he is embarrassed by posing. This is an unusual occupation for him.
12
Girl with a Cat (1882)
Kramskoy is a very bold portrait painter for his time. He always depicted the very essence of man, conveyed his character not only due to the external data of the model, but also with the help of various details and surrounding objects.
Portraying his daughter Sophia, he chose an unusual, not very profitable angle. The girl threw back her head and thinks about something of her own. A cat settled next to her, hugging her mistress with a paw. The girl does not touch with her youth and beauty. This portrait is quite realistic, straightforward, and the cat softens some angularity of the girl.
As if anticipating the sad fate of his daughter (in the 30s of the 20th century she was repressed and was in exile for a long time), Kramskoy portrayed her unadorned, the usual “ugly duckling”, which only has to turn into a white swan.
13
Unknown (1883)
This is the most mysterious picture of Kramskoy, the Russian "Mona Lisa", "Stranger", "Unknown." At the first exhibition, she made an impression of a real sensation. As soon as this mysterious female image was not called, versions and conjectures were built, who is this arrogant beauty? What is her fate? Neither in the artist’s notes, nor in the memoirs of his relatives, there is even a hint of the personality of the girl depicted in the portrait.
A luxuriously dressed young woman sits alone in an exquisite two-seater carriage. In those days, no lady from high society would have been published without a companion or accompanying person. Maybe this is a kept woman of a wealthy merchant or a person from high society? Or does this lady have the highest privileges that allow her to violate all customs and traditions?
There is a version that Kramskoy painted this portrait as the basis for a large ceremonial portrait of Princess Yuryevskaya, the morganatic wife of Emperor Alexander II.
Since the princess could not pose for an artist for a long time, Kramskoy painted a portrait of a simple model, so as not to waste time later on refining details, background and posture. But the tragic fate of Emperor Alexander II interrupted the plan of the artist. The portrait of Yuryevskaya was never painted, but the mysterious and arrogant "Unknown" remained. The editors of most-beauty asks you in the comments to this article to reflect on who is depicted in this picture.
14
Inconsolable grief (1884)
This picture does not depict strong emotions, tantrums and screams. On the contrary, restraint and deep sorrow create an atmosphere of inconsolable grief. A woman in a mourning dress stands in the middle of the room, clutching a handkerchief wet from tears with her right hand. The left hand hangs limp along the body.
Boxes with flowers and wreaths suggest that a funeral is taking place in the house at the moment. The loss of a close and dear person literally killed a woman. Her face is helpless, detached, her gaze is directed to the side, as if seeking an answer, how to live on. Now she is surrounded only by loneliness and emptiness.
15
Portrait of Alexander III (1886)
The portrait of the penultimate Russian autocrat, executed by Kramsky, clearly describes Alexander III as a person. His personality is undeservedly kept in the shadow of his crowned ancestors. This man had many virtues. The king possessed remarkable strength and a rather gentle character.
This is a strict, concise, not burdened with various royal attributes portrait. The black cloth tunic of the king is not hung with orders and is not decorated with ribbons. Only the order of St. George of the II degree is visible on it. The king sits in an armchair and leans on the handle of the checkers.
The main attention is drawn to the face of Alexander III. His power, spiritual firmness and self-confidence. This man held the Russian Empire tightly in his hands. In his reign, not a single war was fought, and prerequisites were created for Russia's economic breakthrough.
16
Portrait of Dr. Karl Andreevich Rauchfus (1887)
Kramskoy was a master of psychological portraiture, and although the portrait of K.A. Rauchfus is considered unfinished, this does not in the least reduce its value and quality. Only the head and the background around it are drawn. The rest of the canvas is only slightly worked out by wide, random strokes of a rough brush - the shoulders and arms of the person being marked are outlined. Despite this, the image of an interesting, highly educated person arises in front of the viewer.
A confident, intelligent look, a high forehead, an intelligent face characterize Dr. Rauchfus as an advanced thinker and scientist. This is a portrait of a professor of medicine, one of the first pediatricians in Russia.
17
Children in the Forest (1887)
This juicy painting reveals Kramskoy as a magnificent landscape painter. Two small children's figures look against a background of dark, saturated greenery of the forest with bright light spots. The summer sun glistens on the foliage of trees and dense grass. An invisible sensation of summer warmth and forest coolness is created.
Afterword
Portrait of Empress Maria Feodorovna (1880).
The influence of Kramskoy on the development of Russian realism in painting is undoubted. As a master of the portrait genre, he brought to his descendants vivid images of not only outstanding figures of Russia, but also of its ordinary, ordinary inhabitants. As a magnificent landscape painter, he brought this genre to a new super-realistic level, supplementing it with new picturesque finds, light experiments. We showed you only a small part of the beautiful paintings of Kramskoy.
A few more works by Kramskoy:
Portrait of Princess Ekaterina Alekseevna Vasilchikova (1867)
Portrait of Sonya Kramskoy, daughter of the artist (1870)
Portrait of the artist Alexander Dmitrievich Litovchenko (1878)
Portrait of Count Peter Alexandrovich Valuev (1880)
Russian girl in a blue shawl (1882)
Portrait of Admiral L. L. Hayden (1882)
This concludes our article. Most-beauty.ru asks you to write which Kramskoi paintings you liked the most.