The history of the painting

A bit of history

In 1824, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was exiled to the Mikhailovskoye family estate. The reason was his free-thinking and atheistic views, which he expressed in a letter to a friend. In Mikhailovsky, Pushkin continued his work on “Eugene Onegin, ” which he had begun in his first southern exile. Here he also created Boris Godunov and wrote many poems. He was often visited by friends who brought him fresh news from the capital and fresh literature. It was Ivan Pushchin, one of his close friends, who presented Pushkin with Griboyedov’s book “Woe from Wit”, which made an indelible impression on the poet.

Many of Pushkin’s friends were associated with the Decembrist movement, and he himself shared their views. Perhaps if he had not been in exile, he would have taken part in the uprising. In memory of his Decembrist friends, he created many poems, including “In the Depths of the Siberian Ores.” During this period, Pushkin wrote two famous poems: “Arion” (1827) and “Anchar” (1828).

Pushkin’s Mikhailovsky exile ended in 1826, when he was unexpectedly summoned by Nicholas I. Moscow. They came to a reconciliation, according to which Nicholas released the poet and became his sole censor, and Pushkin, in turn, became more loyal to the authorities.

The story of My painting

In the spring, I visited Pushkinsky Mikhailovsky, and this place made an indelible impression on me. For two years, the poet has been creating in these open spaces, and if you find yourself here, be sure to take a tour and take a walk around the territory. This place is very picturesque and incredibly inspiring. As you have already understood, my painting is dedicated to Pushkin’s exile in Mikhailovsky. The environment had a huge influence on the formation of the poet’s personality, and in his work one can see all the subtleties and details of his environment. The whole setting here is like a backdrop for Eugene Onegin, and it feels like you’re on stage and walking around the scenery.

My painting is dedicated specifically to the poet’s exile and work, where the environment played a significant role. It all starts with the poet’s study, the place where the works of that period were created. The golden leaves scattered through the air, and some fell onto the carpet. Anna Kern, flying by, left her mark. The portrait of the ancestor, flying off the wall, opens the door to the painting, and we begin to soar along with the creative process. There are two modern objects in the painting: the Alice smart speaker and the Mamiya C330 camera. These are my assistants who were with me during the creation of the painting. I start with a grisaille and use a large brush to reveal the entire canvas. I intentionally leave the right part of the painting unscripted in order to create the effect of developing from a white canvas that does not carry any information to a pasty painting. This gives the painting volume, time on the plane of the canvas, and all the objects seem to be in easy motion. A creative mix is created, in which works of art are born.