As one picture fed the artist all his life: "Everything is in the past." Vasily Maximov

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Maximov's painting "Everything in the Past" was an exceptional success for the artist. The master miraculously reflected on the canvas the idea of the painting - this is a longing for the past tense. The popular painting not only glorified the artist, but also "fed" almost his entire life

Vasily Maksimov was born into a peasant family, and he grew up in the countryside until he was ten. The future artist was surrounded by the centuries-old traditional way of life of the peasants, the well-established rituals of weddings and rural holidays, huts with beautiful carvings and folk costumes with hand embroidery. The artist grew up in the thickest and most beautiful of Russian nature. Everything that surrounded the future artist from an early age was later masterfully reflected on Maximov's canvases. Especially reverently and emotionally filled with his canvas "Everything in the Past" in 1889.

Heroines of the picture

The main figures of the picture are two elderly women sitting on the threshold of their house. Apparently, this is a noblewoman and her assistant. The hostess of the house looks well-groomed, despite her age. She is dressed in a colorful dress and a dark fur cape. The head is adorned with a white lace cap with a blue flower. In her hands she holds gold glasses, which she took off, indulging in deep thought. The woman is sitting in a large chair with a pillow. Another pillow is placed under the feet, where her faithful friend, a dog, is snug. The heroine is wearing gold rings. The look, outfit and posture speak of the woman's former status: she was a domineering, strong-willed and, of course, wayward lady. But now her gaze is somewhat extinguished.. What is she thinking, looking at the sky? Of course, about the bygone youth, about the once full house with guests, about dancing and fun, about the affairs of the heart, probably about good health … Where did it all go?

There is a version that the artist's daughter-in-law, the wife of Alexei's brother, became the prototype of the lady. The servant of the noblewoman, sitting right on the doorstep, is spending her time. Her outfit is simpler but neat. Colorful dark skirt, shirt and apron. The maid is busy with her favorite business. She seems to be knitting a stocking. But her eyes are not turned to the knitting needles.. She is looking nowhere. She looks into emptiness. Her gaze also died out … And her thoughts are inspired by the longing for the bygone time. Of course, she, too, is nostalgic for her departed youth. Between the heroines there is a set table with expensive china dishes (yes, the woman was rich). A samovar is visible behind the servant. A beautiful bright blanket hangs on the railing of the steps. On the table, covered with a beautiful tablecloth, there is a lovely cup made of fine colored porcelain, sweets for tea are served, there is also a sugar bowl in the same beautiful dish. Apparently, the heroines decided to have a tea party in this beautiful weather.

Maximov's main message

The first and main thought is, of course, longing for the past tense, for the past youth. This is indicated by an old park in the background, crumbling trees, a dilapidated house with boarded up windows in the background (it seems to me that a young family once lived there, which moved to the city, so the house became lifeless). There used to be flower beds and beautiful gardens near the house, but now there are heaps of dry forests. Even birds flying away into the distance symbolize a departed youth. The second thought is a note of optimism that the artist wanted to bring to the nostalgia of these women. A beautiful and sweet manifestation of this thought is a lilac bush, in the shade of which the lady and the maid are sitting on this sunny spring day. The day is very warm and bright. White clouds are flying across the blue sky. A spring landscape filled with timeless beauty and adorned with a lush lilac bush in the center brings life to the emotional side of the canvas. This also demonstrates the growing role of landscape in Russian art in the 1880s. The artist showed on the canvas not only nostalgia and a note of optimism, but also the difference in social classes: take a closer look at the dishes from which the heroine drank tea. An exquisite gilded porcelain cup and saucer by the lady and a massive mug by the servant, who is not even on the table, but on the step next to her. Another contrast in different classrooms of the old village: the mistress's gaze looks up, and the servant's eyes meekly look down. Despite the warm spring day, the picture breathes in autumn, nostalgia for the years gone by forever. And all these attributes in the form of porcelain dishes and expensive clothes are remnants of the former luxury of a once gorgeous estate.

Interesting fact about the painting

After painting "Everything in the Past", Maximov no longer had works of such a level that would have received such a stunning success in public reviews. For example, the critic Vladimir Stasov in 1889 in his article "Our Wanderers Today" gave a very high assessment to the picture. In his opinion, this canvas “represents a major unit in the history of his [Maksimov's] activity,” and it became the most significant achievement of the artist. " painting "Everything is in the past". And we must agree that the picture is deeply felt and conveys a certain era. The fading old landowner, who is living out her last days in a poor peasant environment, perfectly expresses the memory of the former wide and luxurious landlord life … Unfortunately, this picture was a swan song in the work of Vasily Maksimovich. "Yes, Minchenkov was right. Maximov is an artist of one picture. The famous canvas gave the artist both success and fetters. He did not write more significant works. And in order to earn a living for himself and his family, he repeated his work many times, which was popular with customers. As a result, Maksimov wrote more than 40 author's repetitions. Today, Maksimov's painting pleases viewers in the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery and personifies the once landowner Russia with its heroes, way of life and traditional customs.