Landscape with a gate Konstantin Andreevich Somov (1869-1939)

The drawing presents a rural scene dominated by a weathered wooden gate and surrounding foliage. The composition is structured around a central vanishing point located in the middle distance, guiding the viewers eye towards a hazy horizon line. A dense thicket of trees occupies the right side of the frame, their branches rendered with rapid, energetic strokes that suggest both texture and an abundance of growth. This mass of vegetation partially obscures what lies beyond, creating a sense of enclosure and mystery.
To the left, a field stretches out towards the distant horizon. The artist employed varying degrees of pressure to depict the undulating terrain, suggesting subtle changes in elevation. A scattering of trees is visible on the far side of the field, their forms simplified into dark silhouettes against the lighter sky.
The gate itself appears aged and neglected; its wooden planks are rough-hewn and show signs of decay. The surrounding picket fence is similarly dilapidated, contributing to a general atmosphere of quiet abandonment. The artist’s use of hatching and cross-hatching creates tonal variations that define the forms and suggest depth.
Subtly, the drawing evokes themes of transition and threshold. The gate serves as a symbolic barrier, hinting at what lies beyond while simultaneously restricting access. It is not merely an entrance but also a point of separation – between cultivated land and wild nature, or perhaps between past and future. The overall mood is one of melancholy and introspection; the scene feels imbued with a sense of solitude and the passage of time. The deliberate lack of human presence amplifies this feeling, suggesting that the landscape itself holds the narrative weight.
The inscription in Cyrillic script at the lower left corner provides temporal context – the year 1893 – which further anchors the work within a specific historical moment, hinting at a period of social and political change potentially reflected in the quiet resignation of the scene.