Isaac Levitan1860–1900Озеро
Om maleriet
Lake is a painting by the Russian artist Isaac Levitan (1860–1900), which he worked on in 1899–1900. It is currently held in the State Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg (Inventory Zh-4262). The painting measures 149 × 208 cm. It is also known by other names, including Lake. Rus and Sunny Day. Lake.
The painting Lake was Levitan's last major work, which he painted shortly before his death. Although unfinished, this canvas is considered the main work of the late Levitan and is often referred to as his 'swan song'. The painting was first exhibited under the title 'Sunny Day' at Levitan's posthumous exhibition held in Saint Petersburg and Moscow in 1901.
Læs videre
The painting Lake is one of the artist's three largest works, along with At the Pool (1892) and Over Eternal Peace (1894), which echoes the latter in subject matter. During the process of creating the painting, Levitan used numerous sketches and studies, including a large sketch, held in the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum and a small preliminary version of the painting, kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Art historian Aleksei Fedorov-Davydov considered the painting Lake to be 'a remarkable creation by Levitan' and wrote that it 'immediately makes a great and strong impression on the viewer, as a powerful and beautiful image of Russian nature.' According to art historian Mikhail Alpatov, in the painting Lake Levitan managed to give 'a collective image of his homeland' – in it you can see 'the past of Russia, its present, nature, and man', in this work 'both the personal experiences of the artist, and the very festive beauty of the world merged.'
Med museets ord — på russisk
В 1901 году в Петербурге и Москве состоялась посмертная выставка Левитана. После ухода художника из жизни оставались десятки его неоконченных картин и сотни этюдов. Среди произведений, впервые представленных публике, центральное место занимало последнее крупноформатное полотно «Озеро (Русь)» (1899–1900, Ж-4262). Картину, которую сам художник считал неоконченной, нередко называют «лебединой песней» Левитана. Она стала воплощением творческих возможностей мастера и своеобразным завещанием будущим поколениям. Глубоко символично, что произведение имело первоначальное авторское название «Русь». Художник старался создать собирательный пейзажный образ своей родины. Серьезность намерений подчеркивал даже выбранный размер холста, с которым могут сравниться лишь форматы картин «У омута» и «Над вечным покоем» (ГТГ).
Oplysninger
- Inventarnummer
- Ж-4262
Imens i livet hos Isaac Levitan
Hele livetMarch 1897
Chekhov the doctor: “Things look bad”
In early March 1897 Chekhov, having examined Levitan, writes in a letter that things look bad: his heart does not beat but blows. In the same days Levitan is in Moscow, meeting P. M. Tretyakov.
1898
The title of academician and teaching at his old school
He is awarded the title of academician of landscape painting and begins teaching at the very school where he studied; he dreams of creating a “House of Landscapes” — a large studio where all Russian landscape painters could work.
winter 1899
Yalta: doctors send him south
In winter 1899 doctors send Levitan to Yalta, where Chekhov is living; the old friends meet with a certain estrangement. Levitan walks leaning heavily on a stick, gasps for breath and speaks of his approaching death; Yalta does not help and he returns to Moscow.
8 – 17 May 1900
Chekhov visits the gravely ill Levitan
From 8 to 17 May 1900 Chekhov visits the gravely ill Levitan, who hardly leaves his house in Trekhsvyatitelsky Lane.
summer 1900
Paintings at the World Exhibition in Paris
All summer, from June 1900, Levitan's paintings are shown in the Russian section of the World Exhibition in Paris.
