Artwork

On the way to pasture

On the way to pasture, by Yefim Volkov, oil, 1892
On the way to pasture, by Yefim Volkov, oil, 1892

On the way to pasture is an oil painting by the Realist artist Yefim Volkov. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1892, *On the way to pasture* is an oil painting by Russian artist Yefim Volkov (1844–1920). Executed in a realist manner, the work portrays a rural tableau of riders traversing a muddy track toward grazing lands. The composition is part of the National Museum’s collection in Warsaw.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows several figures on horseback moving through a wet, earthen road, surrounded by open fields and distant trees. Dressed in traditional attire and equipped with hunting gear, the travelers suggest a communal journey toward seasonal pasturage, emphasizing the connection between people, livestock, and the land.

Technique & Style

Volkov employs a restrained palette of earth tones and muted hues, rendering the horses, clothing, and foliage with careful observation. The brushwork captures the texture of mud and the subtle play of light, while the overall composition maintains a calm, balanced atmosphere typical of late‑19th‑century Russian realism.

History & Provenance

After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in representing Russian realist landscape traditions within its broader European collection.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Yefim Volkov

Artist

Yefim Volkov

Yefim Yefimovich Volkov (Russian: Ефим Ефимович Волков; 4 April 1844 – 17 February 1920) was a Russian landscape painter.