borisov-musatov tapestry 1901 Viktor Borisov-Musatov (1870-1905)

Description of Victor Borisov Musatov’s painting "Tapestry"

Victor Borisov-Musatov was born in Saratov, and there he lived all his youth. He studied at the Moscow School of Art, where he was taught to master the brush flawlessly and to convey his mood with paints. In 1895, he managed to move to Paris. There, he perfected his skills and discovered new facets of talent.

In Russia, the artist spoke in 1902, the very time when the painting "Tapestry" was born. The author chose pastel colors for his works, but especially he was attracted by the unusual technique of tapestry. Musatov studied this technique in detail in France, it appeared in XVII century. The painting becomes similar to cloth due to the paint being applied very thinly on the canvas. The texture appears and the fibers become visible.

The picture shows two young ladies, they stroll through a garden. The park is located in an old manor house. The dark-haired beauties have gone out for a stroll on a sunny day, it is a little hot outside and they are forced to take their lovely fans with them. One of the ladies is adjusting her bouffant dress, while the other casts an indifferent glance at her. The park is well-groomed, the lawns are level, and the trees are trimmed. In the background, the manor house itself is beautiful, an alley with a small bench can be seen.

The women’s dresses are decorated with flounces and numerous pleats on the skirt. On the neck you can see a pearl ornament, indicating the status of the young lady. Her hair is tucked back, it gives a stern, drawn young lady.

Victor Borisovich conveyed the real atmosphere of one of the walking days of two beautiful women. He personally observed such walks on a daily basis. He liked to draw the girls, drawing their faces in the history of his art. What is most admirable is his ability to select such light and natural shades. The sunshine is conveyed throughout, and the details of the outfits look modest yet rich at the same time.