Winter 1910

Konstantin Gorbatov painted this wintery scene on an unknown date, using oil on canvas. Gorbatov was a post-impressionist Russian painter, and "Winter" gives us some insight into the sense of loss and longing for his homeland that was so deeply felt by Russian émigrés. After the Russian Revolution, Gorbatov left Russia permanently in 1922. His paintings often feature idealized views of pre-revolutionary Russia, marked by a sense of nostalgia for a lost way of life. Note the bare trees, heavy with snow, set against a muted sky. Consider the weight of the snow-covered haystack in the foreground. These elements suggest both the starkness and the quiet beauty of the Russian landscape. Despite the cold, there’s a certain warmth in the colors, perhaps reflecting the artist's deep affection for his homeland. It's a powerful reminder of how art can serve as a vessel for memory, identity, and resilience in the face of displacement.