Новая сказка 1891 часть 1 - Russian and soviet artists Русские и советские художники

The composition presents a domestic interior, likely within a rural dwelling. A group of children occupies the foreground, their attention directed towards a book held by one of them. The scene is bathed in a muted light that filters through an open doorway, illuminating both the figures and the surrounding space.
Here we see three boys and a girl gathered on a rough-hewn wooden floor. Two of the boys are seated with legs extended, while another sits cross-legged, intently focused on the text being read aloud. The girl is positioned between two of the boys, her expression suggesting a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Their clothing – simple shirts, trousers, and a headscarf – indicates a modest socioeconomic status. A cat rests near them, adding to the sense of everyday domesticity.
The doorway serves as a significant compositional element. It frames a view into an exterior space where a young animal stands, seemingly observing the children within. The light emanating from outside contrasts with the darker interior, creating a visual separation between the world of imagination and the reality beyond.
Several details contribute to the painting’s subtextual layers. Scattered around the children are small cards or cut-out images, suggesting a playful engagement with storytelling and perhaps an attempt at recreating narratives through visual representation. The presence of laundry hanging from a beam overhead reinforces the sense of a lived-in space, one marked by routine and labor.
The overall atmosphere evokes a feeling of quiet contemplation and innocence. It suggests a moment suspended between childhood fantasy and the realities of rural life. The children’s expressions – a blend of attentiveness, wonder, and perhaps a touch of anxiety – hint at the complexities of growing up within a traditional cultural context. The animal in the doorway could be interpreted as a symbol of nature, freedom, or an unknown future that beckons beyond the confines of their home.