“On a hot day”, Vladimir Egorovich Makovsky – overview of the painting 
- Posted by Makovsky Vladimir Egorovich
- Museum: Serpukhov Art and History Museum
- Year: 1881
Overview of the painting :
On a hot day – Vladimir Egorovich Makovsky. Wood, oil, 24 x 32 cm.
AT. E. Makovsky is known for his paintings in the style of realism and the domestic genre. An observant often painted scenes from life in which contemporaries recognized themselves and their acquaintances. Such work also includes “On a hot day.”.
This small canvas shows a noble family who came from a dusty city to a summer cottage. At sultry noon, they went to the river, hoping to hide from the sun under the crowns of trees and pass the time until dinner.
In the center of the picture is a wooden bench. A governess with a girl of seven years old settled on it. They bowed over the book, an umbrella in the hands of a woman protects them from the sun. The girl is wearing a dark blue dress with an elegant white apron, red stockings, a straw hat.
But her brothers are already gymnastics. This is indicated by their summer light form. A younger boy stands on the banks of the river with a makeshift fishing rod. He still hopes to catch at least some fish in this motionless storm of water. His older brother is already tired of barren fishing. He sits on a bench, leaning against his back. On his face is written disappointment and boredom. It can be seen that he is just short of time. Next to him on the bench there is a tin can with worms, and on the ground an empty bucket for fish. The bucket is large, and the fish, as luck would have it, is not caught. Behind him is an older sister. She, wanting to console her brother, laid her hand on the boy’s shoulder, and she looks into the book that the youngest girl reads aloud.
The picture is filled with sunlight and bright greenery. Makovsky was well able to convey the feeling of a hot half day. We see solar glare on foliage and grass. We feel the stillness of the pond. There is no breeze, and even saving foliage of trees does not help with heat. The group of children is written very lively. They are tired of the heat and are just waiting for them to be called for lunch. The viewer has a feeling that he turned out to be an involuntary witness to this scene.