Windy day. 1898-1899 Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900)

The canvas presents a landscape dominated by water and vegetation, rendered with a distinct emphasis on texture and atmospheric effect. Here we see a body of water – likely a river or lake – occupying a significant portion of the compositions lower half. Its surface is not depicted as placid; instead, it appears agitated, reflecting the sky in fragmented, shimmering patterns of blue and grey. The brushstrokes are loose and energetic, conveying a sense of movement and turbulence.
Along the water’s edge, tall grasses and reeds grow densely, their forms suggested through thick impasto application of green and yellow pigments. These plants appear to sway under an unseen force, reinforcing the impression of wind. A small island or promontory rises from the water, covered in similar vegetation, creating a visual anchor within the flowing expanse.
Behind this foreground, a gentle slope ascends into a line of trees and foliage. The color palette shifts here towards darker greens and browns, suggesting distance and depth. Light filters through the leaves, creating dappled patterns that further contribute to the painting’s atmospheric quality. The sky itself is not clearly visible, but its presence is implied by the reflections on the waters surface and the overall lighting of the scene.
The artist’s technique prioritizes capturing a fleeting moment – the feeling of a windy day – over precise representation. Details are minimized; forms are suggested rather than defined. This approach lends the work an immediacy and a sense of spontaneity. The absence of human figures or structures contributes to a feeling of solitude and immersion in nature.
Subtly, the painting evokes themes of transience and the power of natural forces. The agitated water and swaying vegetation suggest a landscape constantly in flux, shaped by unseen elements. There is an underlying melancholy conveyed through the muted color palette and the sense of isolation; it speaks to the vastness and indifference of nature while simultaneously celebrating its beauty.