Forest in winter. 1884 paper brown. charcoal, chalk, 49 3h64, 1 Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898)

The drawing presents a wintry forest scene rendered in charcoal and chalk on brown paper. Here we observe a dense thicket of trees dominating the composition, their bare branches reaching upwards against a muted sky. The ground is blanketed with snow, its surface uneven and textured, suggesting drifts and accumulations. A narrow stream or frozen waterway cuts through the foreground, reflecting the subdued light in a pale band.
The artist employed a limited palette, primarily utilizing shades of brown, grey, white, and black to convey the coldness and austerity of winter. The charcoal lends a rough, expressive quality to the tree trunks and branches, emphasizing their stark forms against the softer chalk rendering of the snow. A sense of depth is achieved through variations in tone; darker areas recede into the background while lighter patches appear closer to the viewer.
The composition directs the eye along the winding waterway, leading it deeper into the forest’s interior. The trees are not uniformly distributed; some cluster closely together, creating a feeling of enclosure and mystery, while others stand more solitary, their forms silhouetted against the sky. This variation contributes to an overall sense of visual complexity despite the limited color range.
Subtly, the drawing evokes a mood of quiet solitude and introspection. The absence of human presence reinforces this impression, suggesting a landscape untouched by civilization. The bareness of the trees might symbolize dormancy or resilience in the face of harsh conditions. The muted tones and lack of vibrant colors contribute to an atmosphere of melancholy and stillness, characteristic of winter landscapes. The artist’s choice of brown paper as a support further enhances the earthy, somber tone of the work.