Gallery of European and American Art in Moscow. 6 paintings worth seeing

This article is for those who are going to the Pushkin Museum NOT for the first time. You have already seen the most the main masterpieces of the Art Gallery of Europe and America (which is part of the Pushkin Museum and is located in a separate building on Volkhonka, 14 in Moscow). AND "Blue Dancers" Degas. И "Jeanne Samary" Renoir. And Monet's famous Water Lilies.

Now it's time to explore the collection in more depth. And pay attention to the less hyped masterpieces. But still masterpieces. All the same great artists.

And even those whom you bypassed on your first visit to the museum. It is unlikely that you then stopped in front of the “Girls on the Bridge” Edvard Munch. Or "Jungle" Henri Rousseau. Let's get to know them better.

1. Francisco Goya. Carnival. 1810-1820

Only three paintings by Francisco Goya are kept in Russia. Two of them are in the Pushkin Museum (Third painting, “Portrait of actress Antonia Zarate” - at Hermitage. Therefore, it is worth considering one of them. Namely, Carnival.

She is little known abroad. However, very goy. In his spirit. Sinister, mocking. Carnival takes place during the day. But it feels like night in the picture. So frightening seem "celebrating" people. As if these were drunkards and bandits in the morning came out to rowdy.

This is perhaps the darkest carnival ever written. Such gloom was characteristic of all the later works of Goya. Even on more colorful commissioned works, he could portray the harbingers of the bad.

Yes, on portrait of the son of aristocrats he depicted cats with evil eyes. They personify the world's evil, which strives to take possession of the innocent soul of a child.

2. Claude Monet. Lilac in the sun. 1872

"Lilac in the sun" - the very embodiment impressionism. Bright colours. Reflections of light on clothes. Contrast of light and shadow. Lack of precise details. The image is as if through a veil.

If you love impressionism, you will definitely understand why from this picture.

Small children perceive the world without details, as if through water. At least, this is how people who remember themselves at 2-3 years old describe their memories. At this age, we evaluate everything much more emotionally. Therefore, the works of the Impressionists, especially Claude Monet evoke our emotions. More pleasant, of course.

“Lilac in the Sun” is no exception. It doesn't matter to you that the faces of the women sitting under the trees are not visible. And even more so, their social status and the topic of conversation are indifferent. Emotions will overwhelm you. The desire to analyze something will not wake up. Because you are like a child. Rejoice. Be sad. You like. You are worried.

Read more about another wonderful work by Monet in Pushkin Boulevard des Capucines. Unusual facts about the painting”.

3. Vincent van Gogh. Portrait of Dr. Ray. 1889

Van Gogh in the last years of his life was completely dominated by color. It was at this time that he creates his famous "Sunflowers". Even his portraits are very vivid. No exception - "Portrait of Dr. Ray."

Blue jacket. Green background with yellow-red swirls. Too unusual for the 19th century. Of course, Dr. Ray did not appreciate the gift. He took it as a ridiculous picture of a mentally ill patient. I threw it in the attic. Then he completely covered the hole in the chicken coop with it.

In fact, such a von Van Gogh wrote deliberately. Color was his allegorical language. Curls and bright colors are the emotions of gratitude that the artist felt for the doctor.

After all, it was he who helped Van Gogh cope with bouts of mental illness after the famous event with a cut off ear. The doctor even wanted to sew on the artist's earlobe. But she was taken to the hospital for too long (Van Gogh handed his ear to a prostitute with the words “This may be useful to you”).

Read about other works of the master in the article "5 Masterpieces by Van Gogh".

4. Paul Cezanne. Peaches and pears. 1895

Paul Cezanne announced a boycott of the photographic image. Just like his contemporaries the Impressionists. Only if the impressionists portrayed a fleeting impression, neglecting the details. Cezanne modified these details.

This is clearly seen in his still life Peaches and Pears. Take a look at the picture. You will find many distortions of reality. Violations of the laws of physics. Laws of perspective.

The artist conveys his own view of reality. She is subjective. And we look at the same object during the day from a different angle. So it turns out that the table is shown from the side. And the tabletop is shown almost from above. It looks like it's leaning on us.

Look at the pitcher. The line of the table to the left and to the right of it do not match. And the tablecloth does seem to “flow” into the plate. The picture is like a puzzle. The longer you look, the more distortions of reality you find.

Already a stone's throw from Picasso's cubism and primitivism Matisse. It is Cezanne who is their main inspiration.

5. Edvard Munch. Girls on the bridge. 1902-1903

Edvard Munch's corporate identity was influenced by Van Gogh. Just like Van Gogh, he expresses his emotions with the help of color and simple lines. Only Van Gogh portrayed joy, delight more. Munch - despair, melancholy, fear. Like in series paintings “Scream”.

"Girls on the Bridge" was created after the famous "Scream". They are alike. Bridge, water, sky. The same wide waves of paint. Only unlike the “Scream”, this picture carries positive emotions. It turns out that the artist was not always in the grip of depression and despair. Sometimes hope seeped through them.

The picture was painted in the town of Osgardstran. His artist was very fond of. Now everything is still there. If you go there, you will find the same bridge and the same white house behind a white fence.

6. Pablo Picasso. Violin. 1912

Picasso managed to work in different directions during his life. Although many know him as a cubist. “Violin” is one of his most striking Cubist works.

Violin Picasso completely "dismantled" into parts. You see one part from one angle, the other from a completely different angle. The artist seems to be playing a game with you. Your task is to mentally put the different parts into a single object. Here is such a picturesque puzzle.

Very soon, Picasso, in addition to canvas and oil paints, will begin to use pieces of newspaper and wood. This will be a collage. This evolution is not surprising. Indeed, in the 20th century, with the help of technology, it is so easy to see and even have a reproduction of any work. And only a work made from pieces of different materials becomes unique. It's not that easy to breed anymore.

About another masterpiece of the master, which is stored in Pushkin, read the article "Girl on the ball" Picasso. What does the picture tell about?

If you want to visit the Pushkin Museum again, then I have achieved my goal. If you have never been there before, start studying his masterpieces from the article “7 paintings of the Pushkin Museum worth seeing”.

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