Separation Alexey Korzukhin (1835-1894)
Alexey Korzukhin – Separation
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Painter: Alexey Korzukhin
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A. I. Korzukhin’s work is devoted to genre domestic painting; he usually chose motifs for paintings in everyday life, which he contemplated and described, expressing sympathy for his heroes. The canvas is executed in serene and peaceful tones, corresponding to the chosen subject. On the canvas the artist shows the landowner’s family at home. They are seeing off their son, a teenager who came from the cadet corps on vacation. On the left, in the foreground, the mother is sitting on a chair with her rather grown-up son sitting on her lap, dressed in military uniform and already ready to leave.
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Description of Alexei Korzukhin’s painting "Parting" (1872)
A. I. Korzukhin’s work is devoted to genre domestic painting; he usually chose motifs for paintings in everyday life, which he contemplated and described, expressing sympathy for his heroes. The canvas is executed in serene and peaceful tones, corresponding to the chosen subject. On the canvas the artist shows the landowner’s family at home. They are seeing off their son, a teenager who came from the cadet corps on vacation.
On the left, in the foreground, the mother is sitting on a chair with her rather grown-up son sitting on her lap, dressed in military uniform and already ready to leave. The woman is worried about the impending separation. However, she knows that it is necessary, but she wants to prolong the moments of separation, and she uses them for one last briefing. The artist has portrayed this action admirably with an anxious facial expression and a hand gesture with an outstretched index finger. The boy, on the other hand, does not look at his mother, looking away, he is already mentally out of the house. The author shows the characters of his characters through the nuances of color, the accuracy of details.
The artist is accurate in depicting the elements of clothing and furnishings. The woman is dressed in a maiden dress with ruffles in red and gray stripes, her head is covered with a black lace kerchief, in her hand she holds a snow-white handkerchief, which she wipes her tears inadvertently. The boy is dressed in a long dark coat with red uniform stripes in the buttonholes, a yellow scarf passed under his shoulder straps, crossed over his chest. In his hands he holds his headdress. Behind the chair stands an elderly woman, also already dressed in travel clothes and carrying a travel bag, ready to accompany the young man to his place of study.
Opposite this group of characters sits on a sofa, sprawled out, with his leg over his leg, his father holding a watch on a chain in his hand, reminding him of the time. He is also dressed in an unbuttoned uniform coat with red buttonholes, epaulettes, and stripes on his pants. He is leaning on the sofa with his other hand and his face expresses anxiety and worry. The artist has carefully painted all the details of the setting: a table with a snow-white tablecloth set for tea, portraits on the wall, a chair with an unread newspaper and his father’s cane. The painting conveys a family scene in a house where people are aware of their sense of duty, sending their only son to serve.
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The father sits slightly apart from them, on an ornate chair, his gaze directed away from the pair. The placement emphasizes a distance – both physical and emotional – between him and his son and wife. His posture is rigid, suggesting formality or perhaps a deliberate detachment. A newspaper rests on his lap, seemingly ignored, further reinforcing this sense of aloofness.
To the left stands an elderly woman, presumably a family servant or relative. She holds a cloak or coat, her face etched with concern and sadness. Her presence underscores the gravity of the moment and hints at the disruption it will cause within the household. The placement of the older woman in the background also suggests she is observing this event from a position of powerlessness.
The interior setting itself contributes to the overall atmosphere. The room appears well-appointed, suggesting a comfortable middle or upper-class existence. However, the wallpaper’s pattern and the portraits hanging on the wall – likely ancestors – imply tradition and societal expectations that may be contributing to the current situation. A table is set with tea service, but it remains largely untouched, symbolizing an interrupted routine and a future altered by this departure.
Subtly, the lighting plays a crucial role. The scene is illuminated primarily from the left, casting shadows on the right side of the composition. This creates a visual division between the figures, mirroring the emotional separation that is taking place. The overall palette leans towards muted tones – browns, grays, and deep reds – further enhancing the somber mood.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of duty, societal obligation, and familial loss. It appears to depict a young man being sent away, perhaps for military service or education, a common practice in the era suggested by the clothing and style. The emotional toll on both mother and son is palpable, while the father embodies the stoicism expected of men within that social structure. Ultimately, the work explores the complexities of family dynamics under the weight of societal pressures and the inevitable pain of separation.