4MarcoDPict Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)
Boris Kustodiev – 4MarcoDPict
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Painter: Boris Kustodiev
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It was no accident that Kustodiev chose as the subject of his work one of the most significant rituals for the people. The artist’s inimitable intention was to show the appealing aspects of the nation’s way of life, of which the holiday is a part, which determines the optimistic mood of his canvas. The solemnity of church festivities is depicted by the painter expressively and vividly. The painting is a combination of narrative composition with landscape elements: groups of people and actions of holding a sacred ritual with snow drifts, snow-covered trees, roofs and the temple towering over the entire composition.
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Description of Boris Kustodiev’s painting "Epiphany water blessing" (1921)
It was no accident that Kustodiev chose as the subject of his work one of the most significant rituals for the people. The artist’s inimitable intention was to show the appealing aspects of the nation’s way of life, of which the holiday is a part, which determines the optimistic mood of his canvas. The solemnity of church festivities is depicted by the painter expressively and vividly.
The painting is a combination of narrative composition with landscape elements: groups of people and actions of holding a sacred ritual with snow drifts, snow-covered trees, roofs and the temple towering over the entire composition. The artist’s view of the image is unusual: he observes what is happening from above, as if floating above the mass of people. In some places, snow-covered tree branches obscure the crowd.
The artist pays attention to every detail. In the foreground, a group of priests in festive robes of red and gold hold the ritual of water sanctification near the ice-hole in the shape of a cross. Nearby you can see a boat frozen into the ice, also covered by a blanket of snow. A huge number of people lined up on a snow-covered road between trees, waiting to draw blessed water. In the distance, a horse-drawn sleigh rides along the road.
The entire canvas is permeated with the light that the color of the snow gives it, though its shades are varied - from bluish and gray where the shade falls, to dazzling in the sun. Elegant and festive colors of the canvas create elevated and solemn mood in the audience, make us tune in to the emotional state of spiritual kinship with the heroes of the canvas.
Kustodiev’s closeness to the people was expressed in his respect for traditions, his knowledge of the customs and way of life of the people. The painting is characterized by academic professionalism and decoration, typical of the style of his time. The painting sparkles with optimism and bright colors, expressing the national spirit and majesty of the nature of his native country.
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