Summer 1921

Boris Kustodiev created this pen drawing, “Summer,” at the beginning of the 20th century, capturing a fleeting moment in the Russian countryside. Kustodiev lived through a period of immense social upheaval in Russia, including the 1905 Revolution and the subsequent rise of revolutionary sentiment. Here, Kustodiev depicts a group of figures enjoying a summer outing, rendered with delicate strokes that create a sense of movement. You see a horse-drawn cart amidst a field of tall grass, with people gathered, some on horseback and others seated. As the storm gathers overhead, there is an emotional tension in the contrast between the serenity of the scene and the approaching weather, perhaps symbolic of the calm before the storm that would engulf Russia. Though Kustodiev was confined to a wheelchair later in life, he often stated, "I live in my memories". This work, like many of his others, embodies a nostalgia for a past way of life, even as Russia marched towards modernity. It invites us to reflect on how we cherish moments of tranquility amidst the turmoil of change.