Twilight. 1899 Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900)
Isaac Ilyich Levitan – Twilight. 1899
Edit attribution
Download full size: 1000×679 px (0,1 Mb)
Painter: Isaac Ilyich Levitan
Album navigation:
The story of the painting’s creation is rather prosaic. Isaac Ilyich Levitan painted it specifically as a gift for the then sick A.P. Chekhov, who was in a Crimean sanatorium and greatly missed his native land. Most likely, that is why Levitan portrayed in his painting, as close as possible all that is so close and familiar to Chekhov, and that subsequently contributed to his rapid recovery. Artist amazingly accurate timing, to write this picture, when, the working day is over, as evidenced by the haystack, near the house, and the fact that there are no people around him, it’s dusk and the working day comes to an end.
ArtClub
Best Contemporary Atists
Description of Isaac Levitan’s painting "Twilight"
The story of the painting’s creation is rather prosaic. Isaac Ilyich Levitan painted it specifically as a gift for the then sick A.P. Chekhov, who was in a Crimean sanatorium and greatly missed his native land. Most likely, that is why Levitan portrayed in his painting, as close as possible all that is so close and familiar to Chekhov, and that subsequently contributed to his rapid recovery.
Artist amazingly accurate timing, to write this picture, when, the working day is over, as evidenced by the haystack, near the house, and the fact that there are no people around him, it’s dusk and the working day comes to an end. This is quite difficult, because the transition from day to night, namely twilight, is rather fleeting, so it was necessary to concentrate as much as possible and as quickly as possible, and it is important qualitatively carry out the work. In this painting we catch nature in a kind of transition process.
All of nature, as if, at this moment, begins to put on a nightgown, and prepares for sleep. The moon begins to rise in the sky, and behind the house is a tree, which most likely belongs to the family of conifers. But the beauty of this painting is that it conveys the very essence of the state of nature when twilight comes, and it does not matter what kind of tree it is, how long this house has been standing and so on.
Nature reveals itself to us as fully as possible, at this moment it is completely, under the "power" of the artist. All the mystery of nature, as if taken by surprise. The beauty that is observed in the change of the day dawn, on the evening mist, descending on the house, careless strokes, with which Levitan as if on purpose emphasized this trembling hands, quite exciting moment of inconceivable and mesmerizing beauty of nature. It becomes clear that small details, are not important, both in the picture and in nature. What is important is the general idea, the semantic load.
You cannot comment Why?
Dominating the middle ground is a simple, weathered wooden cabin or barn with a visible roof structure. To its left, and slightly further back, stands a solitary tall, slender tree, its silhouette stark against the sky. In the far distance, a line of trees forms the horizon, with faint indications of structures or a distant bell tower on the left.
The sky itself is a blend of soft colors characteristic of twilight. The upper portion exhibits hues of pale pink and yellow, transitioning into a delicate blue that dominates the lower sky. A sliver of the moon, pale yellow and crescent-shaped, is visible in the upper left quadrant, casting a subtle glow. The overall impression is one of quiet solitude and the peaceful transition from day to night in a rural setting.
The painting evokes a sense of nostalgia and the simplicity of rural life at the turn of the century. The dimming light suggests the end of a days work, with the haystacks representing the fruits of labor. The isolated cabin and the vast expanse of the darkening landscape might suggest themes of human presence within nature, the passage of time, and a contemplation of the quiet beauty of the natural world. The painterly style, with visible brushstrokes and a focus on atmospheric light, contributes to the tranquil and evocative mood.