Cossacks in the boat Vasily Ivanovich Surikov (1848-1916)
Vasily Ivanovich Surikov – Cossacks in the boat
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Painter: Vasily Ivanovich Surikov
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The great artist Vasily Surikov loved his native land of Siberia very much. This gave rise to his works in the historical genre. The struggle of Yermak with the Tatars was a very interesting subject for the painter. The study The Cossacks in a Boat was created in 1892 in Krasnoyarsk. Later it became a fragment of the 1895 painting The Conquest of Siberia by Ermak. In it, the artist described a scene from the famous battle of the Cossack army with the Tatar invaders.
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Description of Vasily Surikov’s painting "Cossacks in a Boat".
The great artist Vasily Surikov loved his native land of Siberia very much. This gave rise to his works in the historical genre. The struggle of Yermak with the Tatars was a very interesting subject for the painter.
The study The Cossacks in a Boat was created in 1892 in Krasnoyarsk. Later it became a fragment of the 1895 painting The Conquest of Siberia by Ermak. In it, the artist described a scene from the famous battle of the Cossack army with the Tatar invaders. This battle was decisive, and the Russian lands were forever free from the heavy oppression of the Horde tribes.
Surikov, starting to work on the picture, assumed to depict the battle truthfully, as described by historical sources. But still he decided that the scene of soldiers fighting in the cold waters of the Irtysh would look more exciting and dramatic than on solid ground.
The sketch depicts four men sailing in a wooden boat. The image of each of them is painted expressively. Their individuality and striving for their goal is underlined.
The Cossacks know that the future life of their people depends on the outcome of this battle. Their clothes look like the Cossack uniform of the 16th century. Each of the men holds heavy rifles in his hands.
The image of a Cossack in a red coat with his back to the viewer is a very good compositional solution. His pose is full of dynamism. He is half lying in the bow of the boat and opens open fire on the enemy.
To fill the faces of heroes of the canvas with expressiveness and vital emotions artist Vasily Surikov spent the whole summer on the banks of the Don. There he communicated with his countrymen, whose appearance was a prototype of the Cossacks depicted in the picture. This historical work brought the artist a lot of pleasant moments, so, finishing it, Surikov felt a slight sadness.
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The boat itself seems rudimentary, constructed from roughly hewn planks, suggesting a utilitarian purpose rather than aesthetic refinement. The water’s surface is rendered with agitated brushstrokes, conveying a sense of movement and perhaps even turbulence. A scattering of white material – possibly feathers or down – is visible within the vessel, adding textural complexity to the scene.
The color palette is dominated by earthy tones: browns, grays, and muted greens. The limited range contributes to an overall atmosphere of somberness and austerity. The light source appears diffuse, casting soft shadows and minimizing harsh contrasts. This subdued illumination reinforces a feeling of quiet intensity rather than dramatic spectacle.
Beyond the immediate depiction of men in a boat, several subtexts emerge. The raised arm of the central figure suggests leadership or perhaps an act of defiance or warning. The presence of what might be weaponry implies a potential for conflict or a readiness to defend themselves. The rough construction of the boat and the austere attire of the figures evoke a sense of hardship and resilience – a portrayal of individuals accustomed to challenging conditions.
The scattering of feathers within the boat could carry symbolic weight, potentially referencing rituals, traditions, or even losses suffered by the group. Overall, the painting conveys an impression of a close-knit community bound together by shared experience and facing an uncertain future. The scene is not celebratory; it speaks more to endurance and quiet determination in the face of adversity.