Vasily Perov, "The Fisherman" painting: description, interesting facts

He lived only 48 years, filled with a constant intense creative work and held very much. Vasily Perov - the most prominent representative of the Moscow painting school of the XIX century. He was one of the founders of the legendary Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions. His work has several distinct periods, one of which belongs to the masterpiece of genre painting - the painting "Fisherman".

From the people and the people

Illegitimate bureaucrat son, he even received a surname after the godfather - Vasiliev, and the joking nickname, which later became a surname, went from the sexton who taught him to read and write. The boy struck him with the ability to write down. Vasily Perov knew the life of the common man in all its manifestations - all her numerous burdens and little joys. To express them with all the strength of the talent given by nature - in this he saw his main task.

The first known genre paintings of the young artist, written by him after 1860 (the last year and immediately after graduation at the Academy of Arts), contained a critical or satirical assessment of some phenomena of Russian life. For example, the pharisaism peculiar to part of the Russian clergy, he denounces in the famous painting "Tea drinking in Mytischi" (1862).

Later, Vasily Perov thickens the general psychological tone of his paintings, in the stories devoted to the most defenseless part of the people, accusatory or tragic notes clearly sound. A striking example - the famous "Three", written in 1866.

"Quiet passions"

At the next stage of life and creativity, Vasily Perov again changes the nature of his view, aimed at human life. He becomes more attentive and sensitive, able to consider smaller details. At this time, there are his famous, including writer's, portraits, and genre paintings do not color satire, and good humor or light irony.

There are a number of canvases, traditionally united in a single cycle, conventionally called "Quiet Passions". It includes the super popular "Hunters at Rest" (1871), "The Birds", written in 1870, "Pigeon" (1874) and "Botanist" (1874). In each of them it is told about simple and usual hobbies of the common man.

These hobbies are different. People of different character and origin inhabit Perov's paintings. But there is something in common: these canvases do not talk about actions accompanied by an expression of dramatic feelings - condemnation, pity or sympathy. Heroes of paintings about "quiet passions" often cause a smile, full of humor or good irony. No less valuable is another feeling that unifies these canvases - a feeling of unity with nature. Perov emphasizes the enduring significance of these concepts with his picturesque craftsmanship. One of the main things that Vasily Perov wrote on this subject was "Fisherman" (1871), which was also presented at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873.

Peaceful scene

On a rectangular canvas 91 in height and 68 centimeters wide, the artist depicts a very peaceful scene. These are not those passionately accusatory, sharply social paintings by which Vasily Perov became known to the enlightened Russian public. The painting "Fisherman" tells about human passions of a different kind. By all accounts, this fisherman came to the river for his own pleasure, and not to get food, and he does not look like a spirited person.

Judging by the attention with which the artist views his hero, his fishing equipment, the surrounding landscape, it becomes clear that he considers such filling of human life no less important than the historical exploits of great heroes, or events that are character of global dramas and tragedies.

Main character

The viewer's attention is drawn to the central character of the painting occupying the main space of the canvas. Then you can not even remember how many people are in the picture of Vasily Perov. In the background there is a second fisherman, engaged in some important business in setting up his rigging, looking like a harmonious part of a quiet early cool morning on a small pond.

The skill of the artist in the transfer of the psychology of the moment is impressive. The painting by Vasily Perov is a rich and fascinating story about a short moment, which absorbed very much.

He really is seized with excitement, looks attentively at the float, already bending slightly, resting his hands on his knees and leaning forward, ready to instantly grab a fishing rod to cut the prey. The smooth water near the shore is calm, like a mirror. Apparently, the float had just swung from the bite, and the experienced angler noticed the first waves that diverged from him ...

Accuracy of parts

It is not known whether Vasily Perov himself was keen on fishing. The painting "Fishermen" contains entourage, which speaks volumes. Before us is not a beginner in this matter. He carefully prepared for the process. He has something to sit on, than to hide from the weather, there is something to refresh. Its rods are not just cut-off branches. They have special metal joints. Wait for the net - if there is a particularly large prey, and at the feet - a special fishing rod, equipped with silver bells. There is no doubt - this is a professional!

Those, with what skill is written the foreground of the picture, you can only admire. Perov appears as a painter who knows no difficulties in passing the game of morning light on a clay pitcher, on polished boots or on a metal can with bait, and the accuracy of details is worthy of a textbook on the history of fishing!

Man is part of nature

In the works of earlier stages of creativity Perov uses the natural environment as a means of forcing a dramatic feeling, and in "Fisherman" a person dissolves in the natural environment, being an integral part of it.

The best bite is at the dawn! The first rays illuminated the top of the tree in the background, and the whole sky is already filled with milky light, but the remains of the night are still lying by the water, with the refreshing cool dissolving in the coming day ...

The hours spent on fishing are not included in the lifetime - was not Vasily Perov writing his picture about it? "Fisherman" - a picture that gives the viewer a light serene mood, so rare in Russian classical painting of the XIX century.