Fishing Village, Capri 

Konstantin Gorbatov painted this impressionistic scene of a ‘Fishing Village, Capri’ with oil on canvas. Gorbatov's nostalgic landscapes of pre-revolutionary Russia, and views of Venice and Capri, made him popular among Russian émigrés. The island of Capri, with its stunning natural beauty and historical significance, had long been a magnet for artists. But the visual language used here is especially interesting. The painting evokes a sense of picturesque charm, but it also presents a somewhat sanitized view of Capri, perhaps catering to the tastes of his émigré patrons. The cultural history of Russian émigré communities is crucial to understanding Gorbatov’s work. Their longing for a lost homeland, their nostalgia, and their complex relationship with Western culture all find expression in his art. To understand this fully, one might look at letters, diaries, and publications produced within these communities. This gives us a greater insight into the social conditions that shaped Gorbatov’s artistic vision.