A Picnic 1880

Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin painted this scene of a picnic, sometime in the late 19th century, using oil on canvas. Korovin lived in a time of great social change in Russia. In 1861, the year of his birth, serfdom was abolished, and the country began to modernize. Although Korovin came from a merchant family, he sympathized with the plight of the peasantry and often depicted them in his art. The figures in "A Picnic" are rendered with a sensitive eye, their faces etched with the signs of hard work and simple pleasures. The landscape is equally evocative, with the golden light of the setting sun casting long shadows across the scene. One can imagine the sounds of laughter and conversation carried on the breeze, mingling with the gentle lapping of water against the shore. "A Picnic" is more than just a depiction of a social gathering; it's a celebration of the human spirit and the beauty of the natural world. Korovin invites us to reflect on the simple things in life that bring us together. The painting shows a deep appreciation for the human connection and the restorative power of shared moments.