Gurzuf. 1916 Konstantin Alekseevich Korovin (1861-1939)

The composition presents a still life arrangement set against a backdrop of deep blue water and a distant sail. A woven basket dominates the left side of the canvas, overflowing with ripe fruit – primarily peaches or apricots – arranged in a seemingly casual manner. To the right of the basket, a profusion of roses spills forth, their petals rendered in varying shades of pink, cream, and touches of red. The flowers are densely packed, creating a textural contrast to the smoother surfaces of the fruit.
The artist employed a loose, expressive brushstroke throughout, contributing to an overall sense of immediacy and vibrancy. Light falls across the scene from the left, illuminating the upper portions of the basket and the roses while casting shadows that deepen the impression of volume and form. The water in the background is rendered with broad strokes of blue, punctuated by lighter tones suggesting reflections or movement on the surface. A small sailboat appears as a distant element, adding a sense of scale and hinting at a broader landscape beyond the immediate still life.
The arrangement feels both abundant and melancholic. While the fruit and flowers suggest prosperity and beauty, their placement – a basket and roses seemingly abandoned – implies a transient nature or perhaps a subtle undercurrent of loss. The vastness of the sea behind them reinforces this feeling; it suggests an expansive world beyond the confines of the still life, hinting at themes of impermanence and the passage of time. The single sailboat further emphasizes this sense of distance and solitude.
The color palette is dominated by blues and warm tones – the peaches/apricots and roses providing a counterpoint to the cool blue backdrop. This contrast creates visual interest and contributes to the emotional complexity of the work. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, inviting the viewer to consider not only the beauty of the objects depicted but also the deeper emotions they evoke.