“Gathering” is not a suite about agricultural work, but a series of images with Christian symbols. Representing Christ surrounded by grape branches, the artist turned to ancient iconographic sources, when the symbol of the Christ-winegrower was especially common, and grape pickers were treated as those who are faithful to Christ or are going to join the Christian faith.
All the movements of the winegrowers-carrying grapes, awkwardly dancing, feasting peasants-are filled with considerable solemnity of the ritual. Winegrowers in Goncharova’s paintings are biblical characters with epic slowness of movements and facial expressions.
Related Paintings
The Girl Gathering Grapes by Karl Bryullov 
Flaxing by Natalia Goncharova 
Peasant dances by Natalia Goncharova 
Angels, who rush stones on the city by Natalia Goncharova 
The Virgin and Child by Natalia Goncharova 
Peacock under the bright sun by Natalia Goncharova 
The salt pillars by Natalia Goncharova 
Vase with flowers by Natalia Goncharova