Artwork
Der Elbrus, Mondnacht
Der Elbrus, Mondnacht is an unspecified painting by Arkhip Kuindzhi. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1885, *Der Elbrus, Mondnacht* is an oil painting by Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi, a Russian landscape artist of Crimean Greek origin. The work depicts the towering summit of Mount Elbrus bathed in moonlight, set against a deep blue night sky. It is part of the permanent collection of Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents the snow‑capped peak of Elbrus, the highest mountain in the Caucasus, veiled in a thin veil of mist. The nocturnal setting emphasizes the quiet majesty of the landscape, inviting contemplation of nature’s vastness and the subtle interplay between light and darkness.
Technique & Style
Kuindzhi employs a restrained palette of blues, grays and muted whites, allowing the moonlit illumination to define form. Delicate gradations of tone render the rocky slopes and snow‑filled crevices with a sense of depth, while the soft, atmospheric haze conveys a tranquil, almost ethereal mood characteristic of his landscape oeuvre.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during a prolific period in Kuindzhi’s career when he focused on dramatic natural scenes. After its creation it entered the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, where it remains on display as an example of late‑19th‑century Russian landscape painting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi (27 January 1841 – 24 July 1910) was a Russian landscape painter of Urum (Crimean Greek) origin.
