Artwork
Night Scene on the Volga
Night Scene on the Volga is an oil painting by the Realist artist Alexei Savrasov. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Night Scene on the Volga portrays a nocturnal view of the Volga River, with boats navigating its waters under the cover of darkness.
Night Scene on the Volga portrays a nocturnal view of the Volga River, with boats navigating its waters under the cover of darkness. By selecting a night setting rather than a daylight panorama, Savrasov emphasizes atmosphere and mood over topographical description, evoking the quiet solitude of the waterway after dark. The composition reflects the artist's broader interest in lyrical, emotionally resonant interpretations of the Russian countryside, where familiar natural features are transformed through tonal and temporal choices into vehicles for poetic feeling.
The presence of boats suggests human activity persisting within the immensity of the river, a recurring theme in 19th-century Russian art that linked the lives of ordinary people to the land and waterways that sustained them.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, measuring approximately 32.7 × 54.6 cm. Savrasov's handling emphasizes a nocturnal atmosphere, with the composition balancing a solitary boat with the expansive riverbank in a lyrical, restrained manner characteristic of his approach to Russian landscape painting.
History & Provenance
Alexei Savrasov executed the oil painting Night Scene on the Volga in 1871 on a wooden panel measuring 32.7 by 54.6 centimetres. The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is recorded with the accession number 1975.1.221. It entered the museum's collection in 1975 as a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rodgers.
Overview
Alexei Savrasov, a notable Russian landscape artist, completed Night Scene on the Volga in 1871. This oil painting captures a nocturnal vista of the expansive Volga River, featuring a boat upon its surface. The work exemplifies the Realism movement and is housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcasing Savrasov's distinctive approach to depicting the Russian landscape.
Context
Created during the Realism movement, Night Scene on the Volga reflects Alexei Savrasov's pioneering role in Russian landscape painting. He was instrumental in developing the lyrical landscape style, which infused natural scenes with emotional resonance. While The Rooks Have Returned remains one of his most recognized works, this painting further demonstrates his significant contributions to Russian art through its evocative depiction of a familiar national landmark.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alexei Kondratyevich Savrasov (Russian: Алексе́й Кондра́тьевич Савра́сов; 24 May 1830 – 8 October 1897) was a Russian landscape painter and creator of the lyrical landscape style.
