Artwork
Family.
Family. is an oil painting by Sergey Ivanov. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1897 by Russian painter Sergey Vasilyevich Ivanov, *Family* is an oil on canvas that belongs to the Tretyakov Gallery’s collection. The work captures a winter scene in which a group of figures moves together through fresh snow, their varied coats and hats marking a shared, yet individual, presence within the landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a line of people trudging across a snowy field, each bundled in warm clothing and some shielding their faces with scarves. A leading figure carries a stick, suggesting guidance or support. The arrangement evokes a collective journey, hinting at themes of familial solidarity and the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens in a harsh climate.
Technique & Style
Ivanov employs a realistic palette of muted whites, grays, and muted colors for the garments, emphasizing the contrast between the untouched snow and the human presence. His brushwork renders the texture of the snow’s surface and the weight of winter clothing, aligning with the social‑realist tendency to depict life with clear, unembellished detail.
History & Provenance
Sergey Vasilyevich Ivanov, known for genre and historical scenes that reflect the social conditions of late‑19th‑century Russia, painted *Family* during a period when Russian art was increasingly attentive to everyday subjects. The painting entered the Tretyakov Gallery’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s representation of Russian realist painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sergey Vasilyevich Ivanov (Russian: Сергей Васильевич Иванов; 16 June 1864 – 16 August 1910) was a Russian genre and history painter, known for his social realism.
