Bogdanov-Belsky Nikolai – New Tale
Bogdanov-Belsky Nikolai - New Tale
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Every man came out of childhood. So, too, the painter Bogdanov-Belsky, born and raised in the village, who loved his fellow villagers greatly, carried that love through his life. To many Bogdanov-Belsky was known precisely as a "country artist," but we should not forget that the author was also a celebrated painter, one of whose teachers was Repin himself. This can be seen in his rustic themes. In almost all paintings there are different children’s faces.
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Description of the painting "A New Fairy Tale" by Nikolai Bogdanov Belsky
Every man came out of childhood. So, too, the painter Bogdanov-Belsky, born and raised in the village, who loved his fellow villagers greatly, carried that love through his life.
To many Bogdanov-Belsky was known precisely as a "country artist," but we should not forget that the author was also a celebrated painter, one of whose teachers was Repin himself.
This can be seen in his rustic themes. In almost all paintings there are different children’s faces. "A New Tale" is a creation of the young artist, created by him in the first years after his brilliant graduation from the Moscow school.
The master portraitist’s canvas depicts children reading a book, probably a fairy tale. Poor furnishings and clothing in no way detract from the children’s interest in reading a new book. The artist vividly shows the faces, which he deliberately painted in detail, very clearly, focusing attention on the colors, but not overdone with color. In the picture there is no grotesque, on the contrary, the calmness of the surroundings emphasizes affection and tenderness for small village children. It seems that Bogdanov-Belsky is nostalgic for his own childhood, although he is still quite young.
His love for the common people is so vivid and sincere in each picture of the author that it was able to serve as an excuse for the political persecution of Bogdanov-Belsky by the Soviet authorities. He was forced to emigrate abroad with his family, but in a foreign land the artist also actively works and promotes Russian painting.
The painting "A New Fairy Tale" is one of the brightest in Bogdanov-Belsky’s work as a portrait painter. It is currently in the custody of the National Art Museum in Minsk.
Bogdanov-Belski died far from his homeland and was buried in Berlin in the Russian cemetery.
COMMENTS: 12 Ответы
Well, the life of our ancestors was quite dreary...
прекрасно
Russia
Second half of the 19th century
A New Tale. 1891
Canvas, oil paint.
National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus
Wonderful. Fresh and clear. True art always brings joy.
Thank you to the Russian realists for giving us the opportunity to look into the past!
I think theres an unnecessary detail in the painting, specifically the curly-haired boy.
Yes, the dark-haired boy should be replaced with a Russian one.
нормально
In my opinion, the most beautiful thing is a lovely little cat sleeping on notebooks!
Thank you!!! Wonderful collection of paintings by Bogdanov-Belsky! The artist, who grew up in the countryside, depicts vivid scenes of peasant life in his paintings. The rich and vibrant colors are also influenced by nature, unspoiled at that time by environmental problems. That is my opinion. Thank you!!!!
The renowned Russian artist Nikolai Petrovich Bogdanov-Belsky created a unique and incredibly lifelike story in 1895. The work is called Mental Arithmetic, with the full title being Mental Arithmetic. In the Folk School of S. A. Rachinsky.
The painting, executed in oil on canvas, depicts a rural school of the 19th century during an arithmetic lesson. The schoolchildren are working on an interesting and challenging problem. They are deeply engrossed in thought and searching for the correct solution. Some are thinking at the blackboard, while others stand aside, trying to connect the knowledge that will help them solve the task. The children are completely absorbed in finding an answer to the question posed, wanting to prove to themselves and the world that they can do it.
Next to them stands the teacher, whose prototype is Rachinsky himself – a famous botanist and mathematician. Its no coincidence that the painting has such a title; it honors the professor from Moscow University. The canvas depicts 11 children, and only one boy quietly whispers the answer to the teacher, perhaps the correct one.
The painting portrays a simple Russian classroom, with the children dressed in peasant clothing: bast shoes, trousers, and shirts. All of this harmoniously fits into the scene, subtly conveying to the world the desire for knowledge from the ordinary Russian people.
The warm color palette evokes kindness and simplicity of the Russian people; there is no envy or falsehood here, no evil or hatred. Children from different families with varying backgrounds have come together to find a single correct solution. This is something that is sorely lacking in our modern life, where people are accustomed to living differently, without regard for the opinions of others.
Nikolai Petrovich dedicated this painting to his teacher, a great genius of mathematics whom he knew and respected greatly. Today, the painting is located in Moscow at the Tretyakov Gallery. If you happen to be there, be sure to take a look at the work of this great master.
What beauty!
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The background offers glimpses into the domestic surroundings. To the left, a makeshift bed or resting area is covered with a patterned blanket, and a piece of elaborately embroidered fabric hangs from a beam. The right side of the painting opens to an exterior view, where a young calf stands just outside a doorway, looking into the room. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet concentration and domestic simplicity, highlighting a moment of learning and childhood amidst a rural setting.
The subtext of the painting likely revolves around themes of education, innocence, and the rural Russian experience. The title, New Tale, suggests the unfolding of a story, possibly within the lives of these children or a story being read to them. The presence of books and the focused expressions of the children emphasize the importance of knowledge and learning, even in potentially simple or impoverished surroundings. The calf peeking in might symbolize the natural world or the continuity of life and tradition. The painting evokes a sense of nostalgia and a portrayal of authentic, everyday life in rural Russia, showcasing the quiet dignity and burgeoning intellect of its youth.