Tags
Isaac Levitan, Mood landscape, Peredvizhniki (wanderers), Russian Art, Russian Music, Tchaikovsky
We have already seen two paintings by Isaac Levitan’s (August 30, 1860 – August 4 1900). Isaac Levitan, a Jew, was a Lithuanian-Russian artist and he created the “mood landscape,” lyrical landscape paintings. Levitan was associated with the Peredvizhniki (wanderers), a group of artists who sought more freedom than was allowed by academic art. Levitan was a friend of Nikolai Chekhov, a painter, and also befriended Nikolai’s brother, Anton Chekhov.
Nikolai had died of tuberculosis in 1889 and, as mentioned in earlier posts, Levitan spent the last year of his life at Anton Chekhov’s house, in Crimea. Levitan died of a terminal illness at the age of forty. Anton, a medical doctor, died of tubercolusis in 1894.
Despite ill-health, Levitan was extremely productive. According to Wikipedia, “Isaac Levitan‘s hugely influential art heritage consists of more than a thousand paintings, among them watercolors, pastels, graphics, and illustrations.”
RELATED ARTICLES
- Levitan: August 1st (2012)
- More on Levitan (2012)
Sources and Resources
“Isaak Ilyich Levitan.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/337990/Isaak-Ilyich-Levitan>The above painting reminds me of Canada where birch trees are plentiful. You probably remember from our voyageurs blogs that canoes were made of birch. If one was destroyed, voyageurs and Amerindians could build a new one quickly by helping themselves to what birch trees provided. Nails were not used in building canoes.
© Micheline Walker
29 August 2012
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
Oh, Micheline, that birch forest is stunning: I am surrounded by birch here and the light, everything is so incredibly evocative.
Lovely post about someone, once again, I had never heard of before!
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But it is someone worth knowing. The way he lets the light run through the paintings is magical. And somehow, the composition is perfect: an off-centre cross. The Greeks called in the golden section. And there is something lyrical about these landscapes.
They are soothing. Thank you for writing. Best, Micheline
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As you comment, Micheline, the play of light is incredibly done. I don’t mean to sound critical however; at first I thought I was looking at photos….! They are so life-like.
The music video is also enchanting. I love Tchaikovsky.
A wonderful post, Micheline.
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Thank you Carolyn. The painting with birches is indeed like a photograph. Light moves so quickly that it is rather helpful to take a photograph, but Levitan probably relied on sketching rapidly and noting the position of the light. I so enjoy writing posts about artists and musicians. What luck I had. There was a lovely piece composed by Tchaikovsky. I thank you again for your kind comments. Best regards, Micheline
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exactly. lovely photos resting eyes very nice painting and clearly emphasizing light and shadow play
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It is a light and shadow play. Levitan was simply wonderful. He saw lyricism in paintings and some paintings are poetical. Thank you. Micheline
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Micheline, my dear, I love birch forest painting, it’s so realistic. I also like the video very much. Thank you so much for the moments of delight that we have to offer. Big hugs, Stefania! 🙂
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Thank you Stefania. I was so fortunate. I found the right music. There are times when finding the appropriate music is very difficult. As well, it is so pleasant to be able to explore Russian art. We are now free to do it. It’s on the internet for everyone to see. Big hugs and take good care of yourself. Micheline
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