Artwork
The Fire in the Village at Night
The Fire in the Village at Night is an oil painting by the Realist artist Leonid Solomatkin. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Fire in the Village at Night is an 1867 oil painting by Russian Realist Leonid Ivanovich Solomatkin, depicting a village engulfed in flames at night. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of crisis in a rural setting, where a nocturnal village scene is disrupted by a raging fire. Figures respond to the emergency, with one fleeing and another overwhelmed by smoke, conveying drama and urgency.
Technique & Style
Solomatkin employs strong chiaroscuro, using the fire's golden glow against the dark, cool-toned night sky to create depth and emotional contrast, characteristic of the Realist style's emphasis on everyday life's realities.
History & Provenance
Created in 1867 by Solomatkin (1837-), a painter known for depicting everyday life, the work is now held in the State Hermitage Museum's collection, reflecting its significance within Russian Realism.
Context
As a Realist piece, it aligns with the movement's focus on portraying unvarnished aspects of life, in this case, a rural emergency, highlighting the artist's interest in the lives of common people.
Legacy
While specific lasting impacts of *The Fire in the Village at Night* on the broader art landscape are not widely documented, it remains a notable example of Russian Realist painting's ability to evoke powerful emotional responses through vivid depiction of crisis.
Artist & collection
Artist
Leonid Ivanovich Solomatkin (Russian: Леонид Иванович Соломаткин; 1837, Sudzha – 18 June 1883, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian genre painter in the Realistic style.
