Olive trees by the cemetery in Albano. New Moon. 1824

Alexander Ivanov painted "Olive trees by the cemetery in Albano. New Moon." while living in Italy during the 19th century. Ivanov, positioned in the Russian artistic milieu, was deeply influenced by the Romanticism movement which emphasized emotion and individualism as well as the power of nature. The landscape with the muted sky and the olive trees, common in Italy, evokes a sense of timelessness and tranquility. The proximity of the olive trees to the cemetery introduces a dialogue between life and death, a classic theme in Romanticism, that is heightened by the presence of the 'new moon', a symbol of rebirth. Ivanov’s personal experience of living abroad may have shaped his interest in these universal themes. The scene invites reflection on the cyclical nature of existence, and how we, as viewers, are positioned in this ongoing process. The painting evokes an awareness of our own mortality, seen through the artist’s intensely subjective, and emotional lens.