art 577 Russian Painting - from The Tretyakov Gallery

Here we see a landscape rendered in a highly stylized and geometric manner. The composition is dominated by layered planes that create a sense of depth while simultaneously flattening the perspective. A range of mountains forms the backdrop, their peaks sharply defined against a pale sky. These are followed by progressively closer tiers of hills and fields, each delineated with bold lines and blocks of color.
The palette is warm and earthy, primarily utilizing shades of ochre, brown, red, and green, punctuated by cooler blues in the distant mountains. The artist employed a limited range of hues within each plane, creating a harmonious yet somewhat rigid visual structure. Light appears to emanate from an unseen source, casting shadows that further emphasize the angularity of the forms.
In the foreground, a small group of figures and animals are depicted engaged in agricultural labor. They appear as simplified silhouettes against the flat expanse of the field, integrated into the overall geometric pattern rather than standing out as individual entities. The presence of these figures suggests a connection to the land and a traditional way of life.
The painting’s strength lies in its ability to convey a sense of place through abstraction. While recognizable elements are present – mountains, fields, people – they are transformed into formal components within a larger design. This approach moves beyond mere representation, aiming instead for an expression of the essence or spirit of the landscape and the human activity it supports. The overall effect is one of ordered beauty, suggesting both stability and a certain degree of detachment from naturalism.