Women at the Pond

Mediums: watercolor, gouache, paper.
Location: The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow (Russia).

One of the best early works of the artist who was fond of both Impressionism, especially in Parisian landscapes, and Symbolism. The painting is very reminiscent of the fantasies of the representatives of the symbolist group “Blue Rose”, in particular, the works of Borisov-Musatov. Blue colour only occasionally turns into dark (but not black) shadows; the illuminated part of the landscape is highlighted in soft milky ocher colour. Accented spots in the plot picture telling about the pastime of young ladies are two white swans in a pond (a symbol of love and fidelity) and a well-lit park sculpture. Although the viewer cannot see the faces of the girls, it seems that they are smiling.