art 576 Russian Painting - from The Tretyakov Gallery

Description of Nikolai Krymov’s painting At the Mill

From the very first works of Nikolai Krymov it was already evident that this urban dweller, in a special way is able to present the true beauty of not only modern houses, but also a high level of skill in transferring to the canvas and rustic motifs.

A striking kind of the latter, it is also worth noting the work, entitled "At the mill." At first glance it might seem that the picture is "raw" and the work itself is unfinished, but the longer and more closely you peer into it, the whole canvas as if it comes to life and seems not just a work that is executed in paint, but an exact copy of a dream fragment or some kind of effect of a moving picture.

The realism conveyed in the picture is striking, it seems how many shades of green there are in nature, even little, compared to the amount that can be observed in this work of the master. Thanks to such combinations of green colors and technically correct transitions, it seems as if every single leaf on the tree is moving with the slightest whiff of wind.

The reflection of the trees in the river running by is surprisingly mirrored and authentic. From the title it becomes clear that this picture was painted just at the bottom of the mill, where the river flows down. On the right bank you can see a man who is hunched over, sitting on a log. He is not the main character in this picture, but he makes the picture seem less lonely.

It is impossible to make out from the character the purpose for which he is sitting there and his moods, we can only assume that it is a man from the mill, coming down to have a little rest. The painting is done in warm colors, despite the cold colors of the river and sky. Also on the right bank you can see small houses with chimneys and fences, they stand modestly and as if enveloped by the dense foliage of trees.