Motherhood. 1925 Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin (1878-1939)
Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin – Motherhood. 1925
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Painter: Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin
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Like many artists of his time, Petrov-Vodkin believed that the business of any man of art was not simply to reflect the surrounding reality as dispassionately as possible in paintings, but to carry some kind of thought, to change people with their help. To give them an ethical and aesthetic lesson, to instill in them a taste and a thirst for beauty. That’s why his paintings are often penetrated with light and holiness, are capable of causing long reflections of an almost philosophical nature - they are needed for the elevation of the spirit, so that the world of everyday life suddenly seemed to the viewer quite different, impossible and wonderful.
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Description of Kuzma Petrov Vodkin’s painting Motherhood
Like many artists of his time, Petrov-Vodkin believed that the business of any man of art was not simply to reflect the surrounding reality as dispassionately as possible in paintings, but to carry some kind of thought, to change people with their help. To give them an ethical and aesthetic lesson, to instill in them a taste and a thirst for beauty.
That’s why his paintings are often penetrated with light and holiness, are capable of causing long reflections of an almost philosophical nature - they are needed for the elevation of the spirit, so that the world of everyday life suddenly seemed to the viewer quite different, impossible and wonderful. So that things that seemed empty and stupid, suddenly made sense.
All his works are permeated by the theme of motherhood - this is "Mother" and "Petrograd Madonna" and many others, in which a woman with a child appears in the image of an angel, a wonderful creature, imbued with heavenly beauty, standing above grayness and dirt, performing something like a holy mission.
"Motherhood," on the other hand, breaks from this general line-it is not an enthusiastic hymn, not a solemn song, but as if it were a recognition of the fact that being a mother is vital, it is simple, it happens often and does not arouse surprise or admiration.
Plenty of women do this and do not demand special treatment for themselves, not thinking that motherhood has a bit of sanctity in it.
This is evidenced in the faces of women - the drooping eyelashes, the tired tenderness with which they look at the child.
This is evidenced by the infant’s gaze - childishly meaningless and at the same time intense. The mother’s breasts speak of this - naked in a mundane way, in passing, for business, incapable of arousing love and emotion. The muted, dark, corporeal (but not dirty!) colors also speak of this - they seem to emphasize how simple and close to the ground the scene depicted in the picture is.
COMMENTS: 14 Ответы
нет, не то, что искала (
Не то что Искал (((
нее:(((я искала картину, где мать сидит и у неё на коленях малыш:(((
неее (другооенадо!
мне тоженадо где мать, а на ней аыг сидит (( блиин а гдекаать то?
я тоже не то искала (((
тоже не тоо
не тооо
не не тоо
А нашли????
это не то там мать сидела а на ручках держала малыша=(
То что вы описываете называется “Мать”, это другая картина
Неа, в учебнике написано,, Материнство"
Мда! Соовсем не то что я хотела:(
Я нашла:)"Материнство"Нечитайло (Художник)
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Here we see the woman’s face turned slightly away from the viewer, her gaze directed towards the infant she cradles. Her expression appears weary, yet tender; a sense of quiet strength emanates from her posture. The babys face is rendered with a delicate softness, its eyes closed in peaceful repose. The figure behind them presses against the woman and child, their features indistinct but conveying an impression of protective closeness.
The artist employed a simplified, almost flattened style, reminiscent of early Renaissance or Byzantine iconography. There’s a deliberate lack of detailed rendering; forms are suggested rather than meticulously defined. This stylistic choice contributes to a sense of timelessness and universality. The figures appear monumental, their scale amplified by the compressed space and the absence of any contextualizing details.
Subtly, the painting conveys themes of vulnerability and resilience. The woman’s posture suggests both exhaustion and unwavering devotion. The darkness surrounding them might symbolize hardship or uncertainty, while the closeness of the figures represents solace and mutual support. The muted colors evoke a sense of melancholy, but also of enduring strength. It is possible to interpret this as an exploration of maternal bonds within a context of struggle – perhaps reflecting social or economic difficulties – though the work avoids explicit narrative elements, allowing for multiple readings. The overall effect is one of profound emotional depth and quiet dignity.