Night by Arkhip Kuinji

Night by Arkhip Kuinji

“Sunset” work of the master. Immediately, Kuindzhi’s three stylistic tendencies reflect this painting: romanticism, realism and the features of the emerging symbolism.

The picture is a vivid example of a classical composition: the horses on the top of the hill are the center of the picture, most of the plane is allocated to the image of the sky. However, the sky is one of the favorite “heroes” of the author’s works. Modest enough people are represented, peacefully sleeping teenagers, which Kuindzhi portrayed somewhat simplistically, with separate spots. The brightest accent spot in the picture is the month, which pales the rays of the coming dawn. He seems to send a farewell greeting to the earth and peacefully sleeping people.

With great love, although in a somewhat expressionistic manner horses are depicted – the author had incredibly tender feelings for all animals and even insects. Hanged them at home, treated, and also according to legend, could understand the language of birds. That’s the picture of “Night”, as we can see, Kuinji paid much more attention to the figures of horses than to resting young shepherds.

Most of the viewer’s attention is drawn to the landscape itself – the endless clear sky and the flood of the river hypnotize and fascinate. In it all the skill of the artist! The master of light and color, with his inherent talent, depicted the “free-breathing” space and made him a central character from work.

At the end of his life, Kuindzhi was almost never exhibited, and many mistakenly assume that the author “wrote himself out,” however, “Night” is a vivid example of the artist’s full strength and ideas and masterfully able to translate them.

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