Ukrainian night Arhip Kuindzhi (Kuindschi) (1842-1910)

Description of the painting "Ukrainian Night" by Arkhip Kouindzhi

The painting was created in 1876.

We look at this canvas as if mesmerized. The painter was the first to be able to depict a night in the south so magnificent. Such a depiction of nature could show only a person who loves it very much. Undoubtedly, Quindzhi has a great temperament of a true creator, who creates wonderful pictures that impress the audience.

Over the world reigns a velvet night, striking magic. There is silence all around. A fairy-tale light pours down from somewhere above. You can’t see the moon. It is floating somewhere in the dark clouds. Phosphorous whiteness comes from the walls of the mazanachas. This part of the canvas is illuminated by the moon.

There is a sense of a kind of life here that is incredibly illusory. All other objects are immersed in utter darkness. We can only guess at the silhouettes of the southern poplars and the outlines of the sleeping mill. They seem to be asleep, breathing peacefully. They came to life thanks to Quindzhi’s marvelous skill, which has the power of true magic.

The utter simplicity of the motif is astounding. Where did Quindzhi get such fairy-tale expressive colors? Maybe it was the night itself that gave them to the artist. She decided to gift the artist for the fact that he loved her immensely. Magnificent shades of indigo and exciting ultramarine really impress.

The painting is as poetic as possible, yet realistic. We recognize the nature of the south, the huts, the light of the moon. But everything around changes under the influence of this ghostly light. An ordinary landscape becomes enchanting and conceals some unexplored mystery. The artist saturates the canvas with contrasts of light and shadow. They help to maximize the impression of this solemn night.

Kuindzhi was able to incredibly expressively tell us all how beautiful the southern night. For this purpose, he specially developed the combination and ratio of colors. This skill allowed the author to achieve the full illusion that the picture is illuminated. Everyone is familiar with the Ukrainian night. But here it opens up from a completely different side.