Before the Storm 1873

Ivan Shishkin created this etching, ‘Before the Storm,’ in 1873. The eye is immediately drawn to the dramatic contrast between the dark, heavily worked sky and the lighter, more detailed foreground. This contrast creates a palpable sense of foreboding. Shishkin masterfully uses line and texture to convey the atmosphere of the impending storm. Notice how the dense, almost chaotic lines in the sky create a sense of swirling movement, while the precise, delicate lines in the foreground capture the stillness of the landscape. The composition is divided into two distinct horizontal bands: the turbulent sky above and the serene earth below, emphasizing the tension between the natural elements. This use of contrasting textures and values serves to heighten the emotional impact of the scene. The birds flying in formation can be viewed as a visual motif, or a symbolic element, used by Shishkin to engage the viewer.