Russian Artists

Shannon Soran
ARTH 102

By the Whirlpool, Isacc Levitan

Pencil, 1891.

Girl in the Sunlight, Valentin Serov Oil on canvas, 1888.

In the Western world of art, Russian artists are often forgotten or not as famous as western European artists. Valentin Serov, a Russian impressionist, excelled in painting, the majority of his paintings were portraits. Isaac Levitan, a Russian realist, known for his landscape paintings and drawings. They lived during the same era 1860-1910, lived in the same country, but their backgrounds and styles are different from each other.

Valentin Serov was born in St. Petersburg from a well-off and artistic family. Serov studied in Paris and Moscow in St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Serov was influenced by French impressionism seen in Girl in the Sunlight (Yudina). In Portrait of Konstantin Korovin Serov was influenced by Edgar Degas. Russian impression did not become popular until 1930s (McCarthey). Serov

was one of the first Russian impressionist. Later in his life, Serov did not use bright multi-colour like Vincent Van Gogh and Monet. Serov used black, brown, and grey tones shown in Portrait of the Singer Angelo Mazini. Serov was the most sought after portrait painter in Russia (Yudina). Serov was an impressionist, but later in his life switched to realism movement.

Portrait of Konstantin Korovin, Valentin Serov

Isaac Levitan was born into a poor and educated Jewish family. Levitan was accepted to the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture. Levitan lived in extreme poverty after his parents died. Levitan was famous for his landscapes, he only painted one urban landscape during his career. Levitan was first a realist painter, but later became influnced by impressionism. His landscape drawings always had a different mood in them. By the Whirlpool has an energetic yet mysterious feeling, perhaps created by the lines in the drawing. Path in the Forest has a calm and peaceful impression, every line was thought out and careful drawn. In 1892,

after the assassination attempt on Alexander II,

there were mass deportations of Jews from major cities in Russia (Unknown). Isacc Levitan had to be deported, later he returned because of his domestic and international fame. Levitan later became the head master of landscapes of Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture. Isacc Levitan lived a short and rough life.

Portrait of the Singer Angelo Mazini, Valentin Serov

                      Oil on canvas, 1890.

        Forest Edge, Isaac Levitan ink, 1885

Path in the Forest, Isaac Levitan Pencil, 1884

Citations

McCarthey, Thomas. "Russian and Soviet Impressionism." (2013): n.pag. McCarthey Gallery. Web. 29 Sep 2013. <http://www.mccartheygallery.net/index.php option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=2>.

Yudina, Anna. "Prominent Russians: Valentin Serov."Russiapedia. N.p., n. d. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. <http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/art/valentin-serov/>.

Unknown, . "Prominent Russians: Isaac Levitan."Russiapedia. N.p., n. d. Web. 1 Oct. 2013. <http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/art/valentin-serov/>.