Overview of the painting “Fishing”, Perov, 1878 
- Author: Vasily Grigoryevich Perov
- Museum: Russian Museum
- Year: 1878
Overview of the painting :
Fishing – Perov. 1878. Oil on canvas. 54×45
The picture makes a somewhat “atude” impression. Some unfinished, incomplete. Being an avid and enthusiastic fisherman, the author shows his favorite pastime with love and understanding. A bright and funny color scheme gives the work some “lubular” sound.
The atmosphere of serene peace is created by the soft light of the morning sun, the dawn and cloudless sky. Heroes of the picture are still in a half-done state. Their banks are empty, the catch is ahead. It can be seen that most of all they enjoy being around at this moment. Apparently, we have a grandfather and grandson. The difference in age is emphasized by the artist in color: pale, yellowish tones for the older fisherman and gently pink (flower of the shirt) for the boy. Before us are not be taken anglers, but lovers.
The picture is emotionally rich and its plot is not easy for the artist. Having survived the death of his two children, he yearns for them.
The work was created several years before the death of the artist. It can be assumed that in his work the author expressed longing for a quiet family life, for a children’s laugh, for coziness. Therefore, that idealization, simplification and sad sound of the picture becomes clear. Explanable and detached and indifferent expression on the faces of heroes. Either they have not woken up yet, or they are completely bored with their occupation. However, they continue to fish with enviable patience.
The unfinished work, the vagueness and some blurred pattern becomes understandable, which is not at all characteristic of the master.
Formally approached the artist to create a landscape. It only means the riverbank, bushes shrouded in morning fog.
A careful examination shows that the figure of the senior fisherman is more precisely prescribed, the figure, especially the face of the boy, bears traces of unfinishedness. It was unbearably hard for the author to work on the face of the child, memories interfered and broke his heart.
On the other hand, in every smear, in each line of the picture, the hand of an experienced master is felt in love with his own business. Sunlight, texture of water, glass, summer greenery are perfectly served. The long-range plan, with a barely read smoking factory pipe, turned out to be really good.
As if embodied old age and youth on the banks of the river of life, they thought about the past and the future…