Artwork
Λίμνη Σοκόλνοκι
Λίμνη Σοκόλνοκι is an unspecified work on paper by the Neo-Impressionist artist Ivan Kliun. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus. The work titled “Lake Sokolniki” is a watercolor created by Russian painter Vladimir Kliun during his early artistic period.
About this work
Overview
The work titled “Lake Sokolniki” is a watercolor created by Russian painter Vladimir Kliun during his early artistic period. Executed in gouache, the image depicts a tranquil view of the lake in the Sokolniki district of Moscow, rendered with soft, muted tones that blend sky, water, and foliage into a harmonious whole.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a calm lake surface reflecting surrounding trees, while a distant horizon merges with light greens and blues. A secondary image on the reverse side shows a landscape with a solitary female figure, suggesting a personal connection to the locale where Kliun lived before World War I.
Technique & Style
Kliun employed loose yet controlled brushwork, applying small touches of color that coalesce into the overall scene, a method he described as “neo‑Impressionism.” The handling of light and reflection reveals Impressionist concerns, while decorative outlines and stylised forms echo Symbolist and Art Nouveau tendencies.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced while Kliun resided in an apartment near Sokolniki, capturing various perspectives of the lake before the outbreak of the war. It later entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is currently on display.
Context
During this phase Kliun experimented with multiple approaches, ranging from realistic genre scenes to impressionistic landscapes and Symbolist subjects. “Lake Sokolniki” exemplifies this synthesis, illustrating how the artist negotiated contemporary artistic currents in pre‑war Moscow.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ivan Vasilievich Kliun, or Klyun, born Klyunkov was a Russian Avant-Garde painter, sculptor and art theorist, associated with the Suprematist movement.
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
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