Sunset 

Arkady Rylov painted this landscape, titled 'Sunset', at some point during his career in Russia. The image encapsulates the kind of tension that existed in Russian art between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On one hand, the work continues the tradition of Russian landscape painting, drawing on the aesthetics of the 'Wanderers', a group of artists who sought to depict the beauty and diversity of the Russian countryside. On the other hand, the painting departs from realism through an almost fauvist use of bold, unnatural colour, aligning it with international trends in modern art. Rylov was part of the 'Union of Russian Artists', an artistic association that tried to combine both native and international traditions. Researching the history of these groups, as well as Russian political history at the time, helps us to appreciate how 'Sunset' is caught between tradition and revolution.