Walk after the rain 2 Konstantin Andreevich Somov (1869-1939)

The drawing presents a pastoral scene suffused in a warm, ochre light. A sloping hill dominates the composition, its incline populated by a flock of sheep and two figures – presumably a shepherd and a companion. The landscape unfolds below, revealing a body of water reflecting the pervasive golden hue, with distant hills forming a hazy horizon line. Several trees are clustered on the right side of the hill, their forms rendered in darker tones that contrast with the surrounding luminosity. A single bright point, likely intended to represent a star or celestial body, punctuates the sky above the water.
The artist’s technique emphasizes fluidity and suggestion rather than precise detail. The sheep appear as indistinct masses, indicated by quick, gestural strokes. Similarly, the figures are simplified, their forms defined primarily through outlines and shading. This approach lends an air of dreamlike quality to the scene, blurring the boundaries between observation and imagination.
The color palette is restricted almost entirely to variations of yellow and brown, creating a sense of unity and tranquility. The pervasive warmth evokes feelings of nostalgia or perhaps a memory of a specific time and place. The limited range also contributes to the drawing’s overall softness, diminishing any harshness or visual tension.
Subtly, there is an element of melancholy present. While the scene depicts a seemingly idyllic moment – a shepherd tending his flock after rainfall – the muted colors and simplified forms suggest a sense of quiet solitude rather than exuberant joy. The distant horizon line, rendered in hazy tones, implies a vastness that dwarfs the figures within the composition, hinting at themes of human insignificance against the backdrop of natures grandeur. The drawing seems to capture not just a visual moment but also an emotional state – a contemplative reflection on the passage of time and the enduring beauty of the natural world.