Painting "Paris" and other works by Konstantin Korovin

Born in Moscow in 1861 and visiting the French capital in 1887 for the first time, KA Korovin loved this festive city and the Impressionist art forever. Sometimes it creates a feeling that before the eyes of Konstantin Alekseevich always stood a noisy and cheerful picture - Paris. He came to him in 1892, 1893, then repeatedly in the first decade of the XX century, and from 1923 he lived in it. The city occupied his imagination at any time of the day.

Awakening of Parisians

The artist looks at the city from above. This is the picture "Paris. Morning "(1907). Without lights, the city is illuminated only by the orange speck of the sun. Everything is covered with a gray fog, through which the walls, windows with cornices, a narrow street with rare passers-by can hardly be seen. Puffs of smoke rise from the pipes. All houses have lost their clarity. Painting "Paris. Morning "creates the impression of chilliness and uncomfortable working life. A completely different mood is caused by the evening and night landscapes of Paris.

Memoirs of contemporaries about K. Korovin

He was a cheerful and charming interlocutor, who, with his stories, could captivate both romantic Turgenev ladies and their aunts and grandmothers. He was the soul and favorite of any company. This joker with a cheerful character did not accidentally find his artistic handwriting. Any painting "Paris" (1907, 1933) will tell more about the painter than all the memories. Late in the evening and at night a bright light floods the squares and boulevards on which Parisians are walking or returning from theaters and restaurants. And how good "Moulin Rouge" is the source of joy and enjoyment of the stormy life. What contrasting colors filled it tightly! Bright, illuminated, as the sun, evening lights, the green of the trees is framed by a red mill, whose blades are littered with lights. The ultramarine facade of the left part of the building harmoniously merges with the iridescent green color of the tree crowns and contrasts with the lateral side, painted in a joyful scarlet. Under the flat roof "Moulin Rouge" is unbearably light from a huge number of lights. This light floods, slightly weakening, the entire area in front of him. It is difficult to see the contours of people and cars. Magnificent, created for fun "Moulin Rouge" draws the viewer.

Evening city

The picture "Paris after the rain" is full of sadness and despondency. The lines of Paul Verlaine are involuntarily recalled: "The sky above the city cries, cries and my heart". The city is dark, dim, barely visible contours of trunks without foliage and silhouettes of houses. And next to the contrast, you can put the night "Paris Boulevard", which goes into the distance, where an inexpressibly blue sky opens. Its reflections golubeyut on the pavement and cover the blue-black color of the edge of houses in the distance. From the light of street lamps and advertising lights in small cafes, red brick facades of houses with luminous windows, bright cars on the pavement are clearly visible. It under their light plays reddish-golden shades. Before us, once again a city-holiday, a dream city, where every person will be happy to walk, especially if in his hands a notepad for sketching or an easel is opened.

Romance of Paris

Full of emotions and sublime ecstatic feelings are created by K. Korovin's paintings of evening and night Paris: bright light and reflections of his lights, vanity or unhurried movement of elegant passers-by, flickering of cars. We look at the picture and see the spectacle as on the stage, although the artist did not set the stage effect in front of him. The real picture of Paris is spectacular and fantastic. A view from the window or from the balcony opens a theatrical performance right on the street. Something constantly happens in it. Only the artist stops before us a moment of beauty. The romantic worldview of the painter is transmitted to the spectator by the power of color contrasts. The autumn "Paris" (1933) is flooded with golden light. The golden-red foliage glistens on the trees. On the silvery evening sky appear lilac shades. The outlines of houses hide and dissolve, but cafes and restaurants under the awnings glow brightly, numerous pedestrians cross the road, cars drive briskly, life is full of adventures unknown to us and sudden or planned meetings.

After the next rain

And it rained again, but what a joy he brought! Paris has many faces. Before you picture "Paris after the rain." Photography can hardly convey all the festive shades of a smart street, the lack of routine in everything. The bluish-mauve sky, all in complex shades, puts gleams on the pavement. They mix with the light coming from the numerous cafes, reflect on the red-orange brick walls of the houses. The windows, framed by blue shutters, glow with warm gold. On three classical colors: red, yellow and blue is built the color scale of the picture. They make us remember the favorite colors of the Renaissance, transferred to the twentieth century. The painting "Paris after the Rain" (author K. Korovin) reflects the music of the artist's soul. Some elusive charm lives in this canvas, a new understanding of beauty, trepidation and charm.

"Absolute hearing" on the signs of life allowed the master to see what others do not notice. This can not be learned. If this is given to the painter by nature, then along with diligence and abilities masterpieces are born, which are many in K. Korovin.