Kuindzhi Arkhip – “Moonlit Night on the Dnieper”

The canvas by Arkhip Kuindzhi “Moonlit Night on the Dnieper”, according to the artist, is the main work of his entire life, it was to write this masterpiece that he went all his life. At an exhibition dedicated only to her, which was held in 1880, she became a real sensation.

Kuindzhi concentrated all his knowledge and talent in order to convey the illusion of moonlight and find the ideal composition to convey space and mood. The painting “Moonlit Night on the Dnieper” became such a work. This painting renders the moonlight and lighting effects so accurately that visitors to the exhibition were simply amazed at the artist’s skill.

The picture is filled with harmony and tranquility – the images used are surprisingly simple. The viewer’s gaze on the depicted landscape falls from above. The artist used this technique in order to depict the night sky as fully as possible. The light source in the painting is the moon. Its cold light illuminates the clouds and falls on the slightly wavy waters of the Dnieper. This meager light is enough to see the smooth flow of the great river, its banks.

Arkhip Kuindzhi was often called the painter of light. He spent a lot of effort in order to learn how to accurately render sunsets, shadows, moon reflections.

Despite the lack of moonlight, many objects are visible. The huts turn white, the dark foliage of the trees, thickets of thick grass are visible.

The use of a special artistic technique by the painter became a guarantee of the infinity and majesty of the image of the dark night sky. This depth is achieved by contrasting the warm reddish tones of the earth and the cold silvery water and sky. The effect of a special, quivering light is achieved by the artist through the use of dark strokes in illuminated places.

Year of painting: 1880.

Dimensions of the painting: 105 x 144 cm.

Material: canvas.

Writing technique: oil.

Genre: landscape.

Style: realism.

Gallery: State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.