Oak trees. Evening Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898)

Description of Ivan Shishkin’s painting The Oaks

Shishkin is generally famous for his paintings depicting the Russian forest at any time of the year. But the artist was most fond of painting oaks and pines. He valued the former for their radiating power, while the latter attracted Shishkin with its elegance and refinement.

The painting "The Oaks" is a mature work by Shishkin. It was created in 1887. The park Dubki, located near St. Petersburg, was used as a base for the artist.

In the foreground of the picture depicts three oaks. You can say that these magnificent trees "hold" the entire composition. Everything else serves only as a background, a kind of framing for the trees-giants.

The trunks of the oaks are drawn with amazing accuracy and care. You can easily see the tiniest bark roughness and branch curves. The trees look so real that the hand is drawn to touch them. You want to feel the warmth emanating from these centuries-old oaks.

Yes, three trees occupy the central part of the composition, but, despite this, the picture does not give the impression of something massive and overloaded. Through the trunks of the oaks you can see the edge where the trees grow. The picture of the clear blue, almost white sky without a single cloud adds a lot of light to the canvas.

The horizon line goes diagonally downwards, creating the impression of life and dynamics. The same movement is repeated in the image of the path in the lower right corner of the canvas. Branches of the central oaks are directed in one direction, to the right. By this method, Shishkin has balanced the forest massif in the background on the left.

There is no image of the sun on the painting, but the canvas is literally permeated with sunlight. This feeling is achieved by the game of light and shadow, the finest color transitions. Many experts point out that "The Oaks" - a new stage in the work of Shishkin, another peak of his skill. Here he did not lose his talent for detail and learned how to convey the atmosphere of living nature in a special way.