Vladimir Makovsky and his painting "Children running from a thunderstorm"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Russian land is rich in talents. She gave birth to many of the brightest talents in various fields of art, which became famous far beyond the borders of the fatherland, acquiring world fame. Vladimir Makovsky, a wonderful artist, a master of everyday genre scenes, rightfully belongs to the cohort of celebrities.

Images of children in art

One of the best paintings of the painter is the painting "Children running from a thunderstorm". It refers to children's topics, a keen interest in which Makovsky woke up after the birth of his first-born son in his family. Although his earliest work, the main character of which is also a child, was written by Vladimir Yegorovich at the age of fifteen. Peasant boys and girls evoke sympathy and sympathy in the artist. Therefore, the painting “Children running from a thunderstorm” is far from the only one in the list of paintings that capture the most diverse moments in the life and life of children. Listing them, be sure to remember the "Grandma Game", "Shepherd Boys", "Return from the Night". After all, these are the bestauthor's work. And the first of those just mentioned was bought by Tretyakov for the museum's collection. In fact, the glory of the artist began with her. And yet, it is the painting “Children Running from a Thunderstorm” that is considered programmatic in the work of Makovsky.

Description: Foreground

Let's look at the drawing carefully. Who are his heroes? Two girls trying to escape from the approaching bad weather. And the name of the picture is “Children running from a thunderstorm”, and this detail also makes us concentrate on defenseless touching figures.

It can be assumed that we have two sisters in front of us - an older girl, 10-11 years old, and a very small one, 3-4 years old. They are from a poor family, because both are barefoot and dressed quite unsightly. The elder is wearing a white linen shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows and a dark, almost old-fashioned, sundress. A large brown apron is tied on top, in which the collected mushrooms are folded. The outfit is enlivened by a string of cheap beads around the neck and a red thin handkerchief, strayed almost to the back of the head and barely holding on to golden-brown hair. They are disheveled from gusts of wind, climb into the eyes, but their owner has no time to straighten the naughty strands. From time to time she looks back. It is not so much the wild nature that causes concern, but the little sister, whom the eldest carries, sitting on her back.

The plump face of the younger girl is distorted with fright, her eyes twinkle anxiously, there are clearly tears in them. Makovsky treats her with sincere sympathy. Children running from a thunderstorm are written out to them lovingly and withwith pleasure - we feel it in precise, neat strokes, in the expressiveness of the faces of the heroines, their poses, the refinement of movements.

Right and left parts of the composition

Look under the feet of the older sister. She carefully, deftly and quickly runs across the board-bridge thrown over the ditch. A stream flows under it, overgrown with grass and water lilies. The whole ground is also covered with lush green ants with various wildflowers. On a fine day, this place must be beautiful and inviting. But now Makovsky does not admire him. Children running from a thunderstorm are of more interest to him. The artist really wants the sisters to have time to get to their village and wait out the elements at home, despite all the obstacles. And she's getting closer and closer. The meadow is anxiously agitated, grasses and flowers lean towards the earth in awe, as if the living green sea sighs around. Using the principle of a panoramic image, Makovsky carefully draws individual leaves and twigs, blades of grass and flowers in close-up. Unlike girls, he is not afraid of thunderstorms and sincerely admires the indomitable impulses of nature.

Background

What is striking about the picture "Children running from a thunderstorm"? The description of it cannot be completed without careful consideration of the background. And he's great too! The figures of girls rise above the whole composition, behind them is a field with already ripened golden wheat, and further, to the very horizon, the forest bristles with greenery. Its outlines are lost in the cloudy pre-stormy air. Dark clouds swirl in the sky. Cold gusts of wind drive themforward to who knows what country. In some places the sun is still glimmering, as if to the last resisting the onslaught of the storm. But everything is useless, the storm is about to blaze with lightning, tear apart space with peals of thunder and wash the earth with cleansing blessed rain.