At the Tea-Table 1888

Konstantin Korovin made this painting, "At the Tea-Table," using oil on canvas. The medium is traditional, but Korovin’s loose, impressionistic brushwork was quite modern for its time. Notice how the materiality of the paint itself brings the scene to life. Thick daubs of white and blue suggest the crisp linen tablecloth, while the copper samovar gleams with reflected light. The artist is less concerned with precise details and more with capturing the fleeting impressions of a summer day. The materiality of the tea set is significant. Porcelain and copper were luxury items and symbols of domestic comfort. The way in which the tea is brewed in the copper samovar, and served, were customs. The painting style reflects a shift in Russian art towards a more intimate, personal style, capturing everyday moments rather than grand historical narratives. Korovin seems to suggest the value of simple pleasures and human connection. It invites us to appreciate the beauty in the ordinary, challenging the traditional hierarchy between high art and scenes from everyday life.