#43777 Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)
Boris Kustodiev – #43777
Edit attribution
Download full size: 748×800 px (0,2 Mb)
Painter: Boris Kustodiev
Album navigation:
An amazing painting by Boris Kustodiev, the famous master of painting, Bathing was painted in oil on plywood in 1912. The painting’s broad color palette and saturation of color perfectly show the painter’s handwriting. Bright sunny day is depicted truly "in the style of Kustodiev. The viewer can see the blue of the sky, the shimmering glitter of water in the sun, a green slope with young birch trees.
ArtClub
Best Contemporary Atists
Description of Boris Kustodiev’s painting Bathing
An amazing painting by Boris Kustodiev, the famous master of painting, Bathing was painted in oil on plywood in 1912.
The painting’s broad color palette and saturation of color perfectly show the painter’s handwriting. Bright sunny day is depicted truly "in the style of Kustodiev. The viewer can see the blue of the sky, the shimmering glitter of water in the sun, a green slope with young birch trees. On this background stands out a swimming pool of bright yellow color. And all these details emphasize the beauty of a warm summer day.
With great tenderness and delicacy the author has painted the images of the bathers. He doesn’t detail the figures of the women who bathe, but portrays female silhouettes a little blurred. He does this schematically, drawing the audience’s attention away from the very place of bathing, focusing it on the beauty of a brightly colored, flamboyant nature.
And everyday life is going on all around: boatmen offer their services to people, and a laden cart rises up the road near the slope. On the hill to the right you can see a church painted red.
The artist emphasized the festive summer mood of the bathers with the image of the Russian flag. Tricolor in the picture the painter captured twice. A canvas of white, blue and red color can be seen on the swimmers and on the board of a huge boat.
Women-bathers enjoying the warm sun, the smooth river, they talk to each other, apparently, about the most ordinary things, because around flowing measured life and stands graceful time.
The vividness of Kustodiev’s paints overflows the soul of contemplators with joy and delight.
Everything on the canvas in some way too much - too brightly colored background of the painting, which almost does not leave the air space, too green trees, too much relief waves, too much saturation.
You cannot comment Why?
In the immediate foreground, we observe a small wooden structure, seemingly a mobile bathing pavilion, anchored in the water. Several figures are present within and around it: children emerge from the enclosure, their bodies partially exposed, while an adult male stands on the platform, his arm raised as if gesturing or offering assistance. The depiction of these individuals suggests a casual, leisurely atmosphere, indicative of summertime recreation.
The water itself is rendered with short, broken brushstrokes that capture the shimmering effect of sunlight reflecting off its surface. A swimmer can be seen in the lower right corner, further reinforcing the theme of aquatic leisure.
Behind the floating bathhouse, the landscape rises into a hillside populated by buildings and vegetation. The architecture suggests a town or city setting, with structures exhibiting distinct stylistic characteristics. A prominent steeple punctuates the skyline, hinting at religious significance within the community. The foliage is lush and abundant, painted in varying shades of green to convey depth and texture.
The color palette is dominated by warm tones – yellows, greens, and blues – which contribute to a sense of warmth and vitality. The artist employed an impressionistic technique, using visible brushstrokes and broken colors to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. This approach lends a certain immediacy and vibrancy to the scene.
Subtly, the painting seems to explore themes of community, recreation, and the relationship between humanity and nature. The presence of both children and adults suggests intergenerational interaction and shared experiences. The idyllic setting evokes a sense of nostalgia or longing for simpler times. The architectural details in the background imply a specific cultural context, though it remains ambiguous without further information.