Пастушки 1903 Холст масло Vladimir Makovsky (1846-1920)

Description of Vladimir Makovsky’s painting "Shepherdesses

The painting "Shepherds" is a striking example of Russian realist painting. The work has a distinctly textbook character and seeks to show the life of the simple Russian people as accurately and clearly as possible. So deeply immersed in the world of childhood artist helps the birth of his own sons.

At the center of the plot are village shepherd boys. The cows in the meadow are happily nibbling on the succulent grass. It’s a sunny day, everything is flooded with sunlight. A boy sits on a stump and makes a slingshot, while other children watch him attentively, oblivious to the grazing animals.

They are dressed in simple, loose clothing, in some places you can see the rips, frayed edges. The children appear to be wearing the clothes of their elders, but there is no pity. Their faces express genuine interest and concentration, which is inherent only in the young explorers for an interesting occupation.

The canvas is painted with natural strokes, the outlines are purposefully softened. The forest forming the background is delicately blurred in order not to distract attention from the main characters. Coloring of the canvas is cheerful and contrasting. Bright green grass, clear blue sky, little girl’s red dress - the artist wants to show special fullness of life in the village, the ability to notice and cherish simple pleasures. Appealing to everyday activities is Makovsky’s favorite method, which helps the viewer to understand and get closer to the simple Russian man.

The composition of the work is very harmonious and relaxed. There are no small distracting details, irrelevant palette of colors, playfulness and sense of staging. There is no clear geometric order, which would be inappropriate for such a natural domestic scene. The picture turned out to be direct and sincere, like the very soul of a child, pure and filled with light.