Early spring 1899

Isaac Levitan created this landscape painting in Russia in the late 19th century, using oil on canvas. At first glance, it is easy to see this artwork as a straightforward depiction of the natural world. But consider the period in which it was made. Levitan was part of the Peredvizhniki, or Wanderers movement; a group of artists who broke away from the academic art establishment to depict the lives and landscapes of ordinary Russians. The Wanderers aimed to make art accessible to a wider audience, often staging traveling exhibitions in rural areas. So, in this context, Levitan's choice of subject matter—a seemingly simple landscape—takes on a new meaning. It becomes a statement about the beauty and value of the Russian countryside, a counterpoint to the more grandiose and idealized subjects favored by the art establishment. We can only appreciate the political choices that shaped the artwork by exploring such institutional histories, considering the ways that artists organized themselves to challenge existing norms.