Stage design for Rimsky-Korsakovs Legend of the Invisble Town Kitezh Viktor Vasnetsov (1848-1926)

This is a stage design for Rimsky-Korsakovs opera The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia. The painting depicts a lush, forested landscape framing a serene lake. In the foreground, a lush green hillside is dotted with small trees and patches of grass. Two colorful carpets are laid out on the ground, suggesting a temporary encampment or a resting place.
The lake dominates the middle ground, its surface smooth and reflective. In the distance, rolling hills form the backdrop. The water perfectly mirrors the landscape above, creating a symmetrical composition. However, what truly sets this scene apart is the inverted reflection of a city with onion domes and spires in the lake. This fantastical city, the invisible city of Kitezh, appears to rise from the depths of the water rather than from solid ground.
The subtext of this painting lies in the juxtaposition of the earthly and the divine, the visible and the invisible. The wild, natural beauty of the forest and lake represents the tangible world, while the mirrored city symbolizes a spiritual realm, a hidden sanctuary of purity and divine grace. The presence of the carpets in the foreground could suggest human presence and their connection to the sacred or the mystical. The overall atmosphere is one of tranquility, mystery, and spiritual longing, reflecting the themes of divine intervention, faith, and the struggle between good and evil in the opera. The artwork evokes a sense of wonder and enchantment, hinting at the miraculous nature of the invisible city.