By late summer, on the Volga. 1873 Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov (1830-1897)
Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov – By late summer, on the Volga. 1873
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Painter: Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov
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The Volga nature is a peculiarly northern nature. Well, in any case, the places that Savrasov depicted on his canvases are just north of Central Russia, that is, Yaroslavl and the territories closest to that city. And the summer here is special - sometimes rainy, and sometimes hot and even suffocating. On this canvas, the artist depicts a field that has already been harvested. Haystacks are already stacked, and birds in the field are finished eating what the peasants have not harvested. The village can be seen in the distance, and a mill rises nearby.
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Description of Alexei Savrasov’s painting "Toward the End of Summer, on the Volga
The Volga nature is a peculiarly northern nature. Well, in any case, the places that Savrasov depicted on his canvases are just north of Central Russia, that is, Yaroslavl and the territories closest to that city. And the summer here is special - sometimes rainy, and sometimes hot and even suffocating. On this canvas, the artist depicts a field that has already been harvested. Haystacks are already stacked, and birds in the field are finished eating what the peasants have not harvested.
The village can be seen in the distance, and a mill rises nearby. The working season is over, and that means we can have a little rest. We managed to harvest the crops before the bad weather. And the fact that it’s going to rain can be seen on the canvas - the clouds are very stormy. August is generally considered from ancient times the harbinger of autumn, although it is considered a summer month. But if you remember history, it was in September to celebrate the New Year, at least until 1699, and so it was. And then August was the month of autumn.
On the painting, however, the main place is given to the sky. It is painted in detail. Clouds of different shades and blue behind them. And three haystacks in the foreground show how well the harvest has gone, the hay sheaves are lying on the haystacks. And a little aside you can see Mother Volga, the breadwinner of Russia, with its waters, which seem to be blue-gray closer to the shore, and blue in the distance.
The river has been flowing for many years, but it never ceases to amaze with its greatness and its willful character. It may seem full of water, but it may become a little shallow. In the past, many farmers tried to settle close to the water: there is work, and irrigation of the fields will be provided. But because of their willfulness the crops often died from floods or from drought, shallowing. Today we have modern technology, and it saves us in case of flooding, but back then it was a real natural disaster and not everyone was rescued.
Savrasov described the moment when the harvest is over and nature is sighing with relief: people have managed to harvest everything they have grown.
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Beyond the immediate foreground, the land gently slopes downwards towards the riverbank. Numerous other haystacks dot the landscape, receding into the distance and contributing to a sense of immense scale. A dense line of trees marks the horizon, partially obscuring a distant windmill – a traditional feature of rural landscapes.
The sky occupies a significant portion of the canvas, displaying a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. Cumulus clouds drift across the expanse, their forms rendered with loose brushstrokes that convey movement and atmospheric depth. The lighting suggests an overcast day, yet patches of sunlight break through, illuminating certain areas of the field and creating a contrast between brightness and shade.
The painting evokes a feeling of quiet contemplation and rural tranquility. There is a sense of labor completed; the hay harvest appears to be finished, leaving behind a landscape imbued with a stillness that speaks to the cyclical nature of agricultural life. The vastness of the river and sky emphasizes humanity’s small place within the natural world.
Subtly, theres an underlying melancholy present. The muted color palette and overcast lighting contribute to a somber mood, hinting at the inevitable approach of autumn and the end of summer’s abundance. The isolated haystacks might symbolize the fruits of labor, but also the solitude inherent in rural existence. The overall impression is one of quiet dignity and acceptance of the rhythms of nature.