borisov-musatov autumn mood 1899 Viktor Borisov-Musatov (1870-1905)

Description of Victor Borisov Musatov’s painting "Autumn Motive"

The painting was painted in 1899.

Borisov-Musatov returned to Russia in 1898. It was at this time that the artist was able to find the main theme of all his creations. This peculiar formula of the painter is silent music of sadness about the past. All the works created during this period take us into a special world filled with magic. Every detail: clothing, houses and landscape tells us that we are transported to the 18th century. But this painting is not historical.

The artist quite consciously does not copy the modern world, but he also does not recreate the past. Each composition he creates is invented by him. What matters here is not how accurately the details of historical character are conveyed. Much more important is the particular mood, lyrical motifs, and particular musicality.

"Autumn Motive" is one of the first paintings of this period. In it you can still feel the narrative, which somewhat drowns out the sounding music. Later Borisov-Musatov’s works will lose the plot altogether. The main thing is a peculiar harmony, which would become the concept of the painter’s creativity at that time.

The painter was able to outline completely new ways of painting development. He became a true spiritual father of artists who continued to develop his ideas. It’s just amazing how strong his poetic talent is.

In this painting a completely new world was born, filled with incredible romanticism. Very beautiful people live here who are in perfect harmony with the natural world. If you can guess some features of the real world, they are only partly significant. The main thing is the dream, to which everything is subordinate. It is in this masterpiece of the painter defined a special type of heroine.

Borisov-Musatov, as well as Gauguin aspired to be a truly natural person, who goes completely into it, feeling the true unity and true harmony.