Spring in Italy 1890

Isaac Levitan created this painting of Spring in Italy using oil paints. Although the exact date of its creation is unknown, we can appreciate it in the context of Levitan’s later work, where he turned towards an almost impressionistic style. Levitan was a Russian landscape painter who was associated with the Peredvizhniki movement. This group of artists reacted against the academic art of the time which focused on historical or mythological subjects. They were committed to representing the lives and landscapes of ordinary Russians, and to using art as a means of social commentary. But here Levitan shows us Italy! The painting captures the beauty of the Italian countryside, but it may also reflect the social and political changes that were taking place in Russia at the time. The late 19th century was a period of great upheaval in Russia, as the country began to modernize and industrialize. To understand this work better, we might turn to historical archives, letters, and other documents. Art is always rooted in the social and institutional contexts that shape its creation and reception.