Why the painting "Unequal Marriage" made a lot of noise, and how it changed society

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

The audience was delighted with this picture. For this work, the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg awarded the author the title of professor (1863), critics perceived this as a victory of new trends in art over the old, but the elderly grooms, of whom there were more than enough at that time, had a difficult time.

Painting theme

After the painting "Unequal Marriage" appeared at the academic exhibition (1862), all of Russia started talking about the artist Pukirev. He began his career with the creation of a masterpiece of Russian realistic art, and subsequently he failed to create a work superior or even on a level equal to the masterpiece "Unequal Marriage". Vasily Pukirev was called the genius of one painting. This successful work attracted public attention and sparked a passionate controversy in the press.

Everyone was excited about a new and modern topic - the topic of the power of money and the author's attitude towards it. The theme of unequal marriage played a particularly important role. In February 1861, a decree of the Holy Synod was even issued, condemning marriages with a large age difference. Pukirev paints his picture in 1863, and, most likely, the period of writing the work is associated with the release of the Decree. At the same time, such close-themed works as "The Dowry", "Dubrovsky", "The Thunderstorm" and others appeared. The author's attitude to the topic is clearly expressed in the figure of a young man standing behind the bride.

The painting was considered autobiographical, and the image of the young man was considered a self-portrait of the artist. The phenomenon of unequal marriage has different assessments. However, history says that such marriages in the past have brought suffering to young girls who were forcibly married off to wealthy "old men." This theme is often found in folk songs, literary works and art. Pukirev himself came from a peasant family, so he knew a lot about the life of ordinary people firsthand. Being a realist, the artist was worried about the social problems of society. The painting "Unequal Marriage", which became the pinnacle of the master's work, is a striking example.

Heroes of the picture

There is a version that the plot of the picture was based on a real story about the unhappy love of comrade Pukirev - a prosperous businessman S. M. Varentsov and a girl S. N. Rybnikova. However, the artist's creative imagination was not limited to true facts. Pukirev deliberately portrayed the groom as an old, dry and stiff serving general, and the bride very young.

For the vivid emotionality of the plot, the author gave the old man a deliberately unpleasant appearance: deep wrinkles on his face, loose skin, a tightly clamped collar. Everything suggests that the official is a callous person. He is indifferent to the tears of the bride. Without turning his head to her, the groom only in a whisper expresses his displeasure.

The viewer will certainly notice the hard, angular, sharp features of the hero. But the young bride is the complete opposite of the groom. She has rounded features, an oval face, small lips, light brown hair with a silky sheen, soft, velvety and very young skin. She is wearing an expensive lace wedding dress with a sheer veil. The golden hair and dress are adorned with lovely flowers. The bride is incomparable! She looks especially reverent and charming. If not for one BUT. She is not happy about this marriage. The girl reluctantly stretches out her right hand to receive the ring from the priest.

On the right side of the picture stands a young man with his arms crossed on his chest. This is the prototype of the artist himself. He looks at this unequal marriage and feels sorry for the girl. In fact, this character is the personification of injustice, the pity of society. In addition to sharp realism, Pukirev introduced another new trend into the picture: few of the masters of genre scenes painted life-size characters (with the exception of ancient heroes). And here

Pukirev ventured to do this, intending to make his canvas more real and shocking for the audience, to awaken the dormant public consciousness and appeal to reason. The details of the picture are spelled out brightly, boldly and impartially, which gives the picture a visual dimension: the heroes seem to be alive, which you can touch. The faces of old women give some mysticism to the canvas. Unlike the rest of the characters, they are painted in pale colors, like ghosts. It is quite possible that these old women were once also the wives of an arrogant groom.

According to the second version, the artist himself was still depicted in the painting "Unequal Marriage". And the girl on the canvas was his failed bride - Praskovya Varentsova. The girl was forced to marry the old prince. It is very likely that this version is true, because in 2002 a drawing of 1907 was found, which depicted Praskovya Varentsova. The inscription read: "Praskovya Matveevna Varentsova, with whom the artist V. V. Pukirev painted his famous painting" Unequal Marriage "44 years ago. Mrs. Varentsova lives in Moscow, in the Mazurinskaya almshouse. " The drawing and the inscription prove to us both the reliability of this version, and the fact that the mercantile ruthless society has spoiled the fate of the young girl. Marrying a rich old man did not bring her either happiness or wealth.

Pukirev left a very bright mark on Russian art with one of his works. Significantly, the picture shook society with a challenge. As Ilya Repin noted, she spoiled the blood of more than one elderly general. And the famous historian and publicist Nikolai Kostomarov refused to marry a young lady.

Continuing the theme, the story of how the real fate of the bride developed from the painting "Unequal Marriage" by artist Pukirev.