1896 Birchwood 105. 8h69, 8 Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898)

Description of Ivan Shishkin’s painting "Birch Grove".

Shishkin completed his work "Birch Grove" in 1896. The canvas is on display in the halls of the Yaroslavl Art Museum. This Russian master of landscape created a truly naturalistic portrayal of the native landscape. Shishkin uses a complex technique of drawing, his paintings are very detailed. He paints every little detail in the fine petals of the emerald grass, in the gray hard wood bark and lush birch leaves, which lavishly fill the tree trunks. Everything here speaks of fierce love for the earth and nature, as if the birches symbolize the bright fatherland.

The picture is painted predominantly in green, blue, brown and white hues. It is full of sunshine and the warmth of the summer forest. Looking at it, you feel as if you are immersed in the atmosphere of a hot day, around the intoxicating air, filled with the soft aromas of herbs and tree bark. Everything is permeated by the many sounds made by birds, insects and forest animals that lurk nearby. The painting is not frozen, it is in motion.

With light strokes on the canvas the author paints life itself. This can be read, above all, in its lower part, where small, wild white flowers are arranged. Their petals are plucked from the inflorescences by gusts of fresh wind and fly all over the canvas, gently illuminating it. This life can be seen in the tilt of the grasses, which reach for the light to replenish their strength and grow to the heavens.

Notice that the surface of the ground is uneven, as if it were rising to the left.

It seems as if a tired traveler on the way to the picturesque peak at the edge of the forest sat down to rest for a few minutes with this dense, birch grove. But as he contemplated all this splendor, he froze in place. Now he cannot move as everything around him intoxicates him with its natural beauty and power.