Artwork
Crimean landscape
Crimean landscape is a paint painting by the Art Nouveau artist Alexandre Benois. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Crimean landscape is a watercolour painting created by Alexandre Benois in 1916. The work is signed and dated by the artist.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene Crimean scene with rolling hills and jagged mountains under a pale sky. The absence of human figures or activity contributes to the tranquil atmosphere, while the fading of distant peaks into mist adds a dreamy quality.
Technique & Style
The painting features soft colours, including blues, browns, and whites, with darker shadows in the valleys. Loose, sketchy brushstrokes suggest a rapid execution, giving the work a sense of spontaneity.
History & Provenance
Benois produced this painting during his 1916 stay in Soudak, Crimea, as part of a series of watercolours. Some of these works are now held in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexandre (Alexander) Nikolayevich Benois was a Russian artist, art critic, historian, preservationist and founding member of Mir iskusstva, an art movement and magazine.
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