“May flowers”, Victor Borisov-Musatov – overview of the painting 
- Posted by Victor Borisov-Musatov
- Museum: Tretyakov Gallery
- Year: 1894
Overview of the painting :
May flowers – Victor Elpidiforovich Borisov-Musatov. Oil on canvas. 51 x 64 cm
While studying at the Moscow School, Viktor Elpidiforovich Borisov-Musatov spent all his holidays in the Saratov region, where he devoted a lot of time to writing sketches in nature. The finished work that he exhibited at the student exhibition was a great success, and the painting “May Flowers” was immediately bought.
Spring noon. Fluffy clouds float through the blue sky. The street is flooded with sunlight. Very hot, the windows of a large wooden house painted in calm coffee gray tones are open. Near them, young low apple trees bloom. Snow-white flowers create a unique exquisite ajouter pattern among silver-green foliage. Green juicy grass with a soft thick carpet covers the earth.
Two girls play in front of the house. To the right, almost turning away from the viewer, there is a youngest, dressed in a dress with a wide, complicated collar of white fabric with small patterns. Chestnut hair is braided into tight little braids, a solar bunny crouched on a small ear.
Opposite her is an older girl, in a pale-blue outfit with black trimming on the collar, belt and sleeves. Copper-red hair is removed into a highly braided braid. The tender face was destroyed. Raising her hands, she is preparing to throw a bright red ball to her friend.
Transparent air is filled with a sweet, gentle aroma. A short buzz of bees is heard, but a voiced girlish laugh violates sleepy silence.
The paint master uses a little. Dark green, almost black, shadows emphasize the malachite and emerald shades of grass, the soft glow of white clothes and delicate flowers. Warm light brown tones of houses and land complement the palette. The only bright spot that immediately attracts attention is the scarlet ball.
The master’s work is very reminiscent of the way of the impressionists – a moment captured on the canvas, transmitting the joy of spring day, vigor and happiness. It is filled with light and transparent heady air. Another moment – and everything will change: the ball will fly, the girls will fall off, and only blooming apple trees will remain under the bright rays of the midday sun.