В лесу

by 1883

The school rejects his picture for the medal

By 1883, disillusioned with the school, Levitan submits a landscape for a silver medal that would have made him a classed artist; Savrasov, by then drinking heavily and no longer teaching, writes “silver medal” on the back of the canvas, but the school rejects the painting and Levitan stops attending classes. Korovin repeated gossip that antisemitism played a part in the rejection.

spring 1884

He takes part in a Peredvizhniki exhibition

In the spring of 1884 he takes part in the travelling exhibition of the Peredvizhniki; he will become a member of their Association in 1891.

mid-1880s

His heart disease sharply worsens

Levitan's material situation improves in the mid-1880s, but a hungry childhood, an unsettled life and hard work tell on his health: his heart disease sharply worsens.

spring 1885

He graduates without the title of artist

In spring 1885, at twenty-four, he graduates from the school but does not receive the title of artist: he is given a diploma as a teacher of penmanship. He has no money.

April 1885

He settles at Maximovka and meets Chekhov

In April 1885 he settles in the remote village of Maximovka near Babkino, where the Chekhovs are staying at the Kiselyov estate; his acquaintance with Anton Pavlovich Chekhov begins a friendship and rivalry that will last all his life.

1886

The Crimea and an exhibition of fifty landscapes

A trip to the Crimea in 1886 restores his strength; on his return Levitan organises an exhibition of fifty of his landscapes.