A.M. Gerasimov "After the Rain": description of the painting, means of artistic expression

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

Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov is a bright representative of socialist realism in painting. He became famous for his portraits depicting party leaders. But there are also very lyrical works in his work, landscapes, still lifes, images of Russian life. Thanks to them, the artist Gerasimov is known today. “After the rain” (description of the painting, history of creation, means of artistic expression) is the topic of this article.

Gerasimov A. M.: biography

Gerasimov A. M. Born in the family of a merchant from the city of Kozlov (modern Michurinsk) in the Tambov Region on August 12, 1881. In this town he spent his childhood and youth, he liked to come here even when he became a famous artist.

From 1903 to 1915 he studied at the Moscow Art School, immediately after which he was mobilized to the front, there was the First World War. From 1918 to 1925 artistlived and worked in his native city, and then returned to Moscow, joined the association of artists and a few years later became its president.

Gerasimov A. M. experienced periods of ups and downs, was loved by the artist Stalin, received a large number of professional awards and titles. And in the days of Khrushchev, he fell out of favor.

The artist died in 1963, 3 weeks before his 82nd birthday.

The creative path of the artist

Gerasimov studied with the greatest painters of the late XIX - early XX centuries - K. A. Korovina, A. E. Arkhipova, N. A. Kasatkin. At the beginning of his career, he painted mainly pictures of folk life, depicted Russian nature with its modest and touching beauty. During this period, the following were created: “The Rye was Mowed” (1911), “Heat” (1912), “A Bouquet of Flowers. Window» (1914).

In Soviet times, the artist turned to the portrait genre. Gerasimov showed a talent for surprisingly accurately capturing characteristic features, achieving great portrait resemblance. Gradually, among the heroes of his canvases, high-ranking people, party leaders and leaders begin to prevail: Lenin, Stalin, Voroshilov and others. His paintings are distinguished by a solemn mood and are not devoid of a somewhat poster-like pathos.

By the mid-30s of the XX century, the artist became the largest representative of socialist realism in painting. In 1935 he left for his hometown to take a break from work and spend time with his family. It was in Kozlov that A. M. Gerasimov "After the Rain" - the picture that brought him famebeautiful landscape painter.

During the years of Stalin's rule, Gerasimov held responsible leadership positions. He headed the Moscow branch of the Union of Artists, the Association of Soviet Artists, the Academy of Arts of the USSR.

The story of the painting "After the rain" by Gerasimov

The artist's sister once told about the history of the creation of the painting. The family was relaxing on the terrace of their house when suddenly it began to rain heavily. But Alexander Mikhailovich did not hide from him, as the rest of the household did. He was shocked by how the drops of water accumulated on the foliage, on the floor, on the table shimmered with different colors, how fresh and transparent the air became, how, having fallen on the ground in a downpour, the sky began to brighten and clear. He ordered to bring him a palette and in just three hours he created a stunningly expressive landscape. The artist Gerasimov called this painting “After the Rain.”

However, the landscape, written so quickly and swiftly, was not accidental in the artist's work. Even while studying at the school, he liked to depict wet objects: roads, plants, roofs of houses. He managed to convey the glare of light, bright, rain-washed colors. Perhaps for many years A. M. went to this landscape. Gerasimov. "After the Rain" was the result of creative searches in this direction. There would be no such background, we would not see the described canvas.

A. M. Gerasimov "After the Rain": description of the painting

The plot of the picture is surprisingly simple and concise. A corner of a wooden deck, a bouquet of flowers on a round dining table, and lush greenery in the background. By brilliancewooden surfaces, the viewer understands that heavy rain has recently ended. But moisture does not create a feeling of dampness and discomfort. On the contrary, it seems that the downpour muffled the summer heat and filled the space with freshness.

It feels like the picture was created in one breath. There is no tension and heaviness in it. She absorbed the mood of the artist: light, peaceful. The greenery of the trees and flowers in the bouquet are written slightly carelessly. But the viewer easily forgives this to the artist, realizing that he was in a hurry to catch this wonderful moment of harmony with nature.

Expressive means

This landscape (A. M. Gerasimov "After the Rain"), the description of the painting, the expressive means used by the artist, give art critics reason to talk about the high painting technique of the author. Despite the fact that the picture looks simple and even careless, it showed the talent of the master. Rain water made the colors more saturated. Wooden surfaces not only shine, but also reflect the color of greenery, flowers and the sun, cast in silver and gold.

An overturned glass on the table attracts attention. Such a seemingly insignificant detail clarifies a lot, makes the plot easy to read. It becomes clear that the rain began unexpectedly and rapidly, took people by surprise, forced them to hastily collect dishes from the table. Only one glass and a bouquet of garden flowers were forgotten.

A. M. himself considered one of his best works. Gerasimov - "After the rain". The description of the painting presented in this article shows,that this work is one of the most significant not only in the artist's work, but in all Soviet art.