October. Domotkanovo. 1895 Valentin Serov (1865-1911)

Description of Valentin Serov’s painting "October. Domotkanovo."

Valentin Alexandrovich Serov was an outstanding Russian artist. He painted picturesque and graphic portraits, landscapes, paintings on historical themes, illustrations, and drawings for Krylov’s fables.

This artist, whose skill is admirable, all landscapes are special.

Using the style of impressionism in his work, the artist very accurately conveys the impression of a bright October day, in the painting "October. Domotkanovo." "October. Domotkanovo" is one of Serov’s most famous landscapes. Although small in size, this painting accurately conveys the small sadness felt by a man on a cloudy day in October.

It depicts an ordinary gray day, which usually happens with the onset of late autumn.

The painting’s execution is striking in its craftsmanship, it’s painted as if in a single breath, quickly and easily.

The horses of the peasants are walking in the burnt-out autumn field, in the grass, which is faded and wilted. A little shepherd boy in his papa’s cape, barefoot mending his whip, worn out over the summer. Horses are strolling beside him, and other animals have scattered in the wide field.

Black sheep, frightened by one of the horses, are huddled alarmingly in a distant corner of the field. In the distance are trees from which the bright leaves have not yet fallen, barns in a dilapidated state, arable land, fences standing precariously. It all creates that atmosphere when, in the cold of October, the lush and colorful period of autumn fades. A heavy, lightless sky in shades of gray-blue hangs low over the field. The landscape is completed by cawing crows that fly over the trees.

The artist has perfectly chosen the colors in the painting: yellow through orange and red to brown, black tones. And you can already feel that winter is coming soon.