Artwork
Automobile
Automobile is an unspecified painting by the Social Realist artist Roman Matveevich Semashkevich. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Roman Matveevich Semashkevich painted Automobile in 1930. The canvas depicts a bright yellow automobile travelling down a slope, set against a dark forest that rises on the opposite side of the composition, under a cloudy, gray sky. The work is part of the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a modern vehicle juxtaposed with a natural landscape, emphasizing the contrast between industrial progress and the surrounding environment. The solitary car, positioned on the left, draws the eye forward, suggesting movement and the encroachment of technology into rural settings.
Technique & Style
Semashkevich employs a limited palette, using the vivid yellow of the car to punctuate the muted greens and browns of the forest and the somber tones of the sky. The composition balances the bright focal point with broader, darker areas, creating depth through tonal contrast and simplified forms.
History & Provenance
Created in the early Soviet period, Automobile entered the Tretyakov Gallery’s holdings, where it remains on display. The painting reflects the era’s interest in mechanisation and the visual language of Soviet art in the 1930s.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Roman Matveevich Semashkevich (1900–1937) was an artist, born in Liebiedzieva.
