The Snow Maiden Viktor Vasnetsov (1848-1926)

Description of Victor Vasnetsov’s painting "The Snow Maiden"

Many of Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov’s works are imbued with original motifs of Russian folklore. "The Snow Maiden" is one such painting. The artist’s masterpiece was inspired by Ostrovsky’s play of the same name and Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera. In fact, the picture and was written as a scenery for the production of the opera. The prototype of the fairy-tale Snegurochka was Sashenka, the daughter of the famous patron of the arts Savva Mamontov.

In Russian fairy tales, the Snow Maiden is the embodiment of delicate beauty and purity. It is the child of Frost and Spring, whose heart does not know and should not know love. But in Vasnetsov’s interpretation the ice girl turns out amazingly alive and somehow human.

The canvas is divided diagonally into two parts. The foreground depicts the thickness of winter snow. You can see that the snow cover is deep and thorough. If you step in it, you will fall through the waist. On the left, young fir-trees are peeking out of the snow. And behind them stands the Snow Maiden. She is depicted not in the center of the composition, but slightly to the side. It gives the impression that this winter beauty has just come out of the woods. With surprise and confusion, she looks around her possessions. Her arms are slightly outstretched, as if the Snow Maiden were ready to embrace everything she sees around her. Her costume is just like the princess of the winter forest. The rich brocade coat almost merges with the snow surface. The outfit is painted with golden embroidery. A little cap with fur flaps adds a touch of femininity and tenderness to the image of the Snow Maiden.

The girl’s figure is kind of illuminated from below. It seems that the beauty of the Snow Maiden is reflected from the surface of the snow. Nothing distracts us from contemplation of the heroine. In the background is only dark blue, almost black sky with a mysterious greenish cast. And only by looking closely can we discern the lights of the houses lost in this magical winter kingdom.