Fair Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)

Description of Boris Kustodiev’s painting The Fair

Fairs have always been central to the pastime of many villagers. Fairs were the place where useful purchases could be made, and often only fairs were the place where some things could be produced. In addition, the fair was a place of entertainment, various contests, and socializing. This is exactly the kind of fair depicted in the picture.

Not a single fairgoer’s face can be seen by the viewer. All the fair-goers wore their best festive clothes - how could they not, for the fairs were truly a festive event for them. The women had smart dresses and patterned shawls, the men had new slippers and beautiful caftans.

The two elderly men in the foreground are discussing something furiously. Most likely they are talking about the previous fairs. Children are habitually staring at sweets and toys. There’s a girl clutching a new doll in her hand and a boy chewing sugar. Most of the women are picking out and trying on beautiful patterned scarves. Two young ladies are discussing the merchandise on the counter among themselves. On the other side of the canvas, the newfound indicators are choosing household useful items - rakes, shovels, and wooden buckets. A woman tries to bargain with the rake seller.

The young boys are choosing musical instruments. Their choice is a harmonica. They are in no hurry to buy it, first trying out the sound of the new musical instrument.

A vibrant life is going on everywhere. All the visitors are lively and cheerful, talking and discussing everything that is happening around them, discussing the goods that have been brought, advising and bargaining.

And behind the fairgrounds stretches a village. Gray houses, sagging roofs, a church, and a gray, gloomy, low-hanging sky. Pretty soon the bright fair day will be over, and all the buyers will go back to their old houses, back to their old, measured and gray life.