Masterpieces of Russian painting: Levitan, Golden Autumn. Description of the picture

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

As Pushkin in literature was a recognized singer of Russian autumn, so Isaac Levitan in painting did not get tired of glorifying this amazing time of the year. Hundreds of canvases, large and small, captured the most diverse corners of the artist's native land, forever preserving wonderful landscapes for the eyes of posterity. Autumn appears in them so peculiar and so recognizable! The bright Indian summer holiday, the rainy spleen of the first bad weather and the mournful slush on the eve of winter - everything is dear and close to the virtuoso of brush and paint, in any weather he finds his joy and charm, "charm of the eyes."

History of the creation of the work

So, Levitan, "Golden Autumn". The description of the painting can begin with a short biographical note. The work was created by the artist in 1895, at the very end of the 19th century, a troubled time for the Russian intelligentsianot very clear. At the same time, this is the flowering of creativity, his skill, a productive surge of talent. On a very small canvas (82 by 126 cm) he painted a surprisingly bright, cheerful landscape. Looking at him, it becomes quite clear why Levitan called his work "Golden Autumn". The description of the picture of autumn is made in the most saturated, major tones. But they are very rare in the artist, unusual for him. The master was an adherent of more calm, pastel shades, colors of moderate saturation, soft and delicate. But, apparently, the painter was already very touched and admired by the magnificence of nature, which deviated from his usual manner of writing. And Levitan was not mistaken! "Golden Autumn" - a description of the picture of nature, or rather its image in the vicinity of the Syezha River, which flows near the village of Ostrovno. In those places, the artist lived in a manor with an interesting name Gorka (earlier - Tver province, now - region). It happened precisely in 1895, and under the impression of being in such beautiful places, he set to work.

Painting analysis

The first painting that comes to mind with the name Levitan is “Golden Autumn”. The description of the picture should start from the foreground. On it we see a birch grove spread along both banks of a narrow but deep river. Its banks are steep and high, overgrown with grass and shrubs. The reddish-brown earth peeps through them, is seen among withered blades of grass and half-naked branches with yellow and reddish leaves. Above the slope grow themselveswhite-barreled beauties, golden, sparkling in the bright rays of the already cool sun. It seems that gold - yellow and red - is spilled in the very air.

After all, a few blazing scarlet aspens add saturation to the overall color. By the way, it is worth emphasizing how attentive Levitan is. "Golden Autumn" - a description of a non-monochrome landscape! In yellowness itself, as the most frequently encountered paint, it notices and reflects so many shades that you are amazed! However, it also draws attention to other colors. Greenish-gray, as if faded, washed out by autumn rains, there are trees on the right bank of the river. In the background, in the distance, you can see a village, peasant huts. Beyond are the fields, and the lemon-ocher forest stretches along the horizon.

The mood of the painting

Feast of life, delight in the fragile, short-lived beauty of nature - this is what Levitan's painting "Golden Autumn" conveys. Schoolchildren write an essay on it with pleasure at the lessons of speech development. After all, true beauty attracts, ennobles, touches, educates and teaches careful handling. Beauty is always defenseless. Everyone should remember this.

No wonder it is said that it is beauty that will save our world from lack of spirituality!