Description of the picture:
Lake Ladoga – Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi. 1873. Oil on canvas, 62.5 x 79.5
In the summer of one thousand eight hundred seventy two Arkhip Ivanovich leaves for Valaam. Immediately after the wedding with a Greek woman of Russian origin, Vera Shapovalova (Ketchurgey).
The choice of a place for a honeymoon was, of course, dictated by the artistic aspirations of the newly-made spouse – many landscape painters of that time sang to Valaam, dedicating wonderful pictures to the island. The turn has come and Kuindzhi will go for his portion of inspiration to this secluded picturesque corner.
Returning from the trip, the master creates an amazing picture – “Ladoga Lake”. The landscape painter was very attracted to the northern edge. The bare rocky expanses were distinguished by grandeur and tranquility framed by the clear water of a cold lake.
The painter chose a very good perspective to be able to capture everything. Here and the coast in boulders and pebbles, and dark water, and, of course, a grand sky, because without it it is difficult to imagine a picture of Kuindzhi’s brush.
The most interesting moment in the picture, immediately attracting the attention of the viewer, is the rocky bottom, which shines through the water. Very interesting and beautiful welcome. And it is with this amazing image of stones through the prism of clear lake water that a big scandal is connected that kindled the temperamental and emotional Kuindzhi.
At the time of the creation of the painting “Ladoga Lake”, a comrade “on the shop floor”, an artist-marine painter Sudkovsky, lived next to the painter. Neighbors could not be called bosom friends, but the artists were quite warmly friendly. Ten years after the presentation of the “Lake”, Sudkovsky presents his work to the public – “The Dead Calm”, where he literally repeats Kuindzhi’s technique, namely stones radiating through the water. This outraged Arkhip Ivanovich to the core. Accusing the former friend of plagiarism, the painter demanded coverage in the press – they say that this technique belongs to him. Today they would say – it was necessary to patent, and so … But the XIX century was not the XXI and the noise was serious, and the art community was divided into two camps.
However, today hardly anyone will remember Sudkovsky, but the name of the Russian artist with the outlandish name “Kuindzhi” is immortal. And how can one not admire his incredible lake, blue from its own depth and dark from clouds gathering over it, along which the sailboat and the simple little boat equally move. How can you not absorb the beauty of these vast expanses, the extraordinary transparency of the air, written in cold tones, which make this plot detached-majestic and sacred-lonely … like Balaam himself …"