Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A Russian Who Got the Light Just Right...

We have shared many artists from many lands, but until now there's been an absence on this blog of gifted Russian artists. I was first introduced to Russian art work through a special traveling exhibit at the D'Orsay Museum in Paris.

One painting in particular caught my attention. It was so beautifully luminous that I couldn't stop looking at it.



I had to write the name of the artist and the title of his work in my sketchbook/journal so I could find out more about him when I returned home.


The artist was Arkhip Ivanovitch Kouindji (1841-1910) also spelled Kuindzhi, Kuiniji, and, well, if you want to look him up just key in his first name. Orphaned as a six year old, he worked at a variety of menial jobs until his natural gift led to a job as a photo retoucher. He eventually went to St. Petersburg where he took some training, but remained largely self-trained.

He is recognized as a painter who sought and succeeded in transmitting "light's fullness and density." Below are a few more of his paintings showing his capture of light and mood. What's your opinion of his works? Have you ever heard of him? Please share your comments.





10 comments:

  1. I can really see why you were so attracted to that top one. It feels like a still evening where you just sit and stare at the moon and listen to the crickets. Thanks for introducing me to another new to me artist. Jen

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  2. No, I have not heard of him, but I love what he does with light. It's what I strive for, formerly with paint, and now with fiber. It always amazes me when I see the work of someone such as this who has had little or no formal training. It gives me hope for my own work.
    SZ

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  3. Beautiful work by this man!!! Connie

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  4. WOW. I'm in love...

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  5. Yum! thanks for posting. The beams of light are so present and multilayered with the shadows I can almost feel the temperature and quality of the air in some of these landscapes.--sabra

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  6. Excellent! Absolutely perfect!! FAB

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  7. Wow! Not only is his perception of light fantastic, but his eyes are sooo magnetic... he's a hottie! Di

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  8. Hey Di, I'd tell him you said so but as it happens he's been dead for 100 years. RA

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  9. The title says it all. Absolutely delicate and beautiful! Thank you so much. Marcia

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  10. The moon painting is beautiful!

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