Under Birches 1904

Curator: Standing before us is "Under Birches," a 1904 oil-on-canvas work by Igor Grabar. It’s an interesting example of Russian Impressionism, painted en plein air. Editor: Wow. It feels like staring into a snow globe – a really elegant, muted snow globe. The whole thing shimmers, like light is refracting off of everything. Curator: It's the brushwork, isn't it? The way he applies paint in these short, broken strokes to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. You see how the figures almost dissolve into the landscape. Editor: They're kind of ghostly, especially the two in the back. Are they even there, or are they impressions? And everyone's wearing these dazzling white outfits. Is this some sort of summer ritual, or maybe the height of summer fashion for country folk at that time? It feels dreamy. Curator: Those are actually smocks. Grabar painted this while visiting his family estate. He likely depicted relatives relaxing on the grounds. These garments served a practical purpose; smocks shielded them from the harsh sunlight, reflecting socio-economic realities and values around labor at the turn of the century. Editor: Right, there’s a story. But, looking at it now, my mind resists thinking about summer labor. The loose dabs of white, ochre, and green seem to mimic not just light but time itself blurring. There is something transcendent that suggests that what’s at play here goes beyond plain appearances. Curator: Precisely! What you pick up intuitively – that dreamlike quality – that really touches on one aspect that made Grabar important. As a leading figure of the Union of Russian Artists, he contributed to establishing Impressionism within Russia's unique socio-political and aesthetic context. He actively looked to modernize the traditional landscape genre. Editor: He's successful here, in my opinion. I'll probably think about birch trees differently now. Curator: As will I. Viewing this work helps me reflect upon not only Russia’s aesthetic landscape but also how everyday realities shaped artists and artistic expression.