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The painting (1) "Ship Grove" is considered an artistic (2) testament of Ivan Shishkin. He painted (3) it in the year of his death, and this is the last serious work of the artist. In his work on this painting, Shishkin used plein-air sketches (4), sketches created (5) in his native Yelabuga. The canvas got its name due to the image of ship pines, which were used for shipbuilding.
The foreground (6) of the painting shows a small stream and the edge of the forest illuminated by the warm summer sun. The sandbank is lined with stones. The wooden perches beside the brook attract attention (7), dominated by shades of brown.
The majesty and power of nature is conveyed (8) by the severity of the tall pine trees. All the viewer's (9) attention is directed towards the details (10) of the depicted (11) mighty pines. What attracts attention is an old pine-tree, which is leaning slightly to the side. By its slant it is differentiated from the young, massive coniferous trees.
Some of the trees try to hide in the shade of the grove, but the sunlight illuminates their tops and crowns. The illuminated tree crowns are also reflected in the quiet smoothness of the stream.
You feel as if you are in the grove yourself. Above you there are coniferous trees striving upwards. You can hardly see their tops. The pink hues of the sunset shimmer in the sky. Dark green and violet-black strokes of deep shadows stand out against a backdrop (12) of lighter colours (13).
The contrast (14) of warm and cold shades on the painting conveys to the viewer the solemn and tranquil mood of nature.
Sometimes it seems that in the painting "Ship Grove" Shishkin talks about the relationship of generations: here old pines symbolize wisdom and experience, here a fallen branch with withered needles means decrepitude, and next to the young growth dazzles with greenery — low pine trees compete with each other, which of them is taller and slimmer. Soon they will take the place of their ancestors. Do you see how the water washes away the shore? The roots of an old pine tree were exposed. Not much time will pass, and the hurricane will knock down the mighty trunk, tearing it out by the roots from the soil weakened by water.
Ivan Shishkin lived and breathed Russian nature, identifying it with human life. That is why his paintings seem to come to life before the eyes of observers, they are so convex and relief. The artist's love for his native land manifested itself in the play of colors, the skill of the brush and the theme of Russian nature, to which the epic canvases of the great landscape painter are dedicated.
Портрет
This painting is one of four famous portraits of women painted by Leonardo. It has a very fascinating story and the ambiguous symbolism of most of Da Vinci's paintings. Even without delving into the many theories about the Renaissance titan's affiliation with various secret societies, the painting itself provides plenty of references to various associations and wordplay.
The painting has suffered enough damage from numerous restorations and repairs. After modern methods of research, it was discovered that there are several other paintings by Leonardo beneath the current painting. These include a version in which the ermine is not depicted at all, and one in which the lady has a smaller grey animal in her arms instead of this animal. There is also evidence that the original background was blue, but that a door or window behind the left shoulder of the female figure has disappeared.
This painting is among the most beautiful female portraits. The three-quarter turn of the head allows the viewer to admire the exceptional beauty of the lady's face. She is dressed according to the fashion of the time - a cap of transparent fabric on her forehead is held up by a special ornament - ferroneira, dark hair is passed under the chin, slicked back smoothly and create a kind of frame for a gentle face with soft features. The lady is wearing a fashionable dress with a large square neckline and slit multi-layered sleeves. The neck and the beautifully flowing shoulder line are adorned with a double strand of black pearls. Cecilia's hands are strikingly delicate and graceful. The gesture with which she touches the animal's fur coat is exquisite and unusually sensual. The animal is delighted by her touches, like a house cat, and she moves her paws and lets out her sharp claws. The colouring of the painting, as always with Leonardo, is rich and nobly restrained.
A journey through art
An enchanted ticket, studded with the colors of artists past and present, allows me to enter any museum at any time to learn, engage and feel the mastery of artists' brushes in an attempt to extend the use of my own. I have set my agenda: visiting the Musée Marmottan Monet and the Louvre in Paris, France, as well as the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Each building contains framed masterpieces that inspire the world without translation. Naturally, in today's realities, you can also visit these museums online, which will be just as entertaining and allow you to explore art from different parts of the world.
In a quiet room, Monet's watery images of beauty come to life. I magically sit on the riverbank and become one of his subjects. The smooth beauty of mixed colors, blending and floating, connects me to the scene. The breeze blowing from the Seine encourages me to come even closer. The willows weep tears of lavender and water, and the artist finds himself in the reflection of the water. I could spend a lifetime in the tranquility of Monet's world but I am drawn to the City of Lights.
The Louvre offers many genres, but I am drawn to the statues throughout the museum. Each one teaches life lessons that remain relevant through the ages. I watch Hercules fight the serpent, reminding me that good triumphs over evil. The brute strength revealed in the tendons of his arms and legs allows me to stay strong in life. The second bronze figure is Diana of Versailles. With arrows in a quiver on her back and a young deer at her side, she embodies the strength to be found not only in a man but also in the grace of a woman. As I continue through the great halls, I stumble upon Cupid and Psyche's Kiss, hand carved into magnificent marble, the superior bond between a man and a woman. Their hands are locked and their faces speak of an enduring love that has allowed the world to continue from generation to generation. The Louvre statues are as relevant today as they were when they were created. Whether we are fighting snakes, gaining inner strength or finding passion, the statues symbolize human beings even today.
When I enter the Museum of Modern Art, it is obvious that art can also be a living and vibrant embodiment of the emotions captured in the 20th and 21st centuries. The techniques and complex works respond to a world that is constantly changing as artists share their vision through various media. Paper, paint, plastic and photography help push art into a new dimension. There are no boundaries in contemporary art beyond the artist's vision. Contemporary art is deep and sometimes uncomfortable, not necessarily beautiful. Instead, its provocative nature reaches into the depths of our souls, making us feel inexplicable emotions.
In conclusion, I have learnt lessons at the hands of masters past and present. The palette of my life is broadened by the shades of passion held within the walls of museums. Their treasures of beauty, strength, endurance and love complete my gamut of colors as I strive to create my own masterpieces in my own life as well, each time trying to make new adventures in the world of art.