Девочка с гусями 1875 Vladimir Makovsky (1846-1920)
Vladimir Makovsky – Девочка с гусями 1875
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Painter: Vladimir Makovsky
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Vladimir Makovsky, son of the famous art historian and founder of the School of Painting and Architecture, E. I. Makovsky, has been associated with the world of the beautiful since birth. Brought up in an atmosphere of creativity, from a young age he chose the path of the artist. Working a lot and fruitfully, Vladimir Yegorovich devoted his works to the life of a "little man". In addition, the master was unfailingly faithful to the vision of art solely in terms of truthfulness and sincerity of the world around him. Among the unpretentious domestic scenes, in the basis of which this ideology is particularly evident, is the painting A Girl with Geese in the Field.
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Description of Vladimir Makovsky’s painting "Girl with Geese in the Field".
Vladimir Makovsky, son of the famous art historian and founder of the School of Painting and Architecture, E. I. Makovsky, has been associated with the world of the beautiful since birth. Brought up in an atmosphere of creativity, from a young age he chose the path of the artist. Working a lot and fruitfully, Vladimir Yegorovich devoted his works to the life of a "little man". In addition, the master was unfailingly faithful to the vision of art solely in terms of truthfulness and sincerity of the world around him.
Among the unpretentious domestic scenes, in the basis of which this ideology is particularly evident, is the painting A Girl with Geese in the Field. Painted in 1875, it is part of a vast series of works on the life of peasant children. Many of Makovsky’s works, in their ordinariness and everyday life, reveal the beauty of unique moments that encapsulate the liveliness and lyricism of all life.
The plot and composition are extremely simple. However, the artist manages to convey his reverent and tender attitude to the model and to emphasize the individuality of an ordinary peasant girl. The young shepherdess, who came out early in the morning to feed the geese, walks gracefully barefoot on the grass. Makovsky painstakingly painted the girl’s face, emphasizing the dreamy, distant gaze with sly sparkles, and highlighting the red lips. The young heroine’s natural beauty and cheerful disposition are accompanied by a motley sundress and beads shining in the sun. The mop of raven-wing hair tucked behind her back and adorned with wreaths of flowers, the rest of the large multi-colored bunches can hardly fit into her apron.
The geese accompanying the girl obediently follow her. Curiously, the large white-and-black goose in front ducks to the ground and, apparently, hisses, sensing the danger. But his brethren are lazily pacing behind, and the whole environment radiates serenity and calmness. And also endless and unsophisticated, but all the more appealing in its splendor is the expanse of green meadows with a scattering of white flowers and crystal blue sky... Charm and grace are wrapped in the morning silence of the little village scene.
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Here we see the girl dressed in a simple red dress with a white blouse peeking from beneath. A floral wreath adorns her head, adding a touch of innocence and perhaps hinting at rural traditions or celebrations. She holds a slender stick, likely used to guide or herd the geese, but her gaze is directed slightly off-canvas, conveying a sense of introspection or gentle curiosity. The blue apron draped across her body introduces a contrasting color that draws attention to her form.
The geese are positioned in varying planes of depth. One goose occupies the foreground, its detailed rendering highlighting its plumage and alert expression. Two others stand further back, partially obscured by the tall grass, creating a sense of spatial recession within the field. The background is rendered with looser brushstrokes, depicting a distant treeline under a pale sky. This treatment contributes to the overall feeling of tranquility and vastness characteristic of rural settings.
The artist’s use of light is notable; it illuminates the girls face and dress, drawing the viewers eye to her expression. The soft lighting suggests a late afternoon or early morning hour, contributing to the scenes peaceful atmosphere.
Subtly, the painting evokes themes of childhood, rural life, and connection with nature. The girl’s solitary presence might suggest a sense of independence and self-sufficiency often associated with children growing up in agrarian societies. The geese themselves can be interpreted as symbols of domesticity and sustenance, reinforcing the images focus on traditional values and simple living. There is an underlying feeling of quiet dignity and resilience conveyed through the girl’s posture and the understated beauty of her surroundings.