In the vast collection of Shishkin works of the Kazan museum “Polyanka” is a work that characterizes the creator of the epic landscape, the singer of the Russian forest with a new unexpected side. A typical and at the same time unique characteristic corner of nature is captured by the artist with a light and quick brush that conveys the immediacy of the look, the strength and freshness of the “first impression”. This approach allowed us to recreate the living and changing nature of the surrounding reality and brought the picture closer to the works of the Impressionists.
This is not about the technical methods of impressionism with its separate smear, the calculation of the optical mixing of colors, the identification of color shadows, and so on, but about the principle of “simultaneous vision,” understanding of nature as the unity and integrity of its constituent elements. Grass, trees, clouds are written not individually, not in themselves, but in a natural interaction with each other and the surrounding light and air environment. The painting uses a complete system of plein air, which gives vitality and persuasiveness to the image of nature.
Pure clarified paints, rejoicing sunlight, piercing the whole space of the picture, give rise to a sense of festivity, joyful mood, heightened emotionality of the image and make this excellent sample of the lyrical landscape in Shishkin’s work one of the most penetrating landscapes of the Kazan museum. Acquisition of “Polyanka” by the museum was promoted by the Academy of Arts in the Kazan art school in the beginning of 1898.
Among the exhibits were Shishkin’s paintings, including “Polyanka”. It was so popular with the Kazan public that the city authorities turned to the artist with a request to cede it to the Kazan museum. Shishkin agreed. A telegram with this message arrived in Kazan on the day of his death.
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)