They are depicted riding a gray wolf. Essay on painting B
This painting by Vasnetsov illustrates one of the exciting episodes of a Russian folk tale. A forest is immediately visible, in which there are already powerful old trees, through which barely light breaks through and the blue sky is visible, which means that everything will end well, because in fairy tales good always triumphs over evil. The forest consists mainly of pine trees; there are a lot of animals and birds in such a place. Against the background of a dense forest, the author depicted Ivan Tsarevich on a wolf, as well as the beautiful Vasilisa. The wolf runs at full speed, as they are running away from the chase. The wolf knows that not only his own life, but also that of his friends depends on him now.
Vasnetsov portrayed the wolf as strong and huge. Such a dark background can be perceived as a tense chase, the characters are worried. They understand that if they are caught, separation is inevitable. And therefore, fairy-tale heroes look not only frightened, but also saddened. Not only the forest is very gloomy and dark. Among all this darkness, the beauty of the heroes is visible. Ivan is presented in a beautiful embroidered camisole, and Vasilisa the Beautiful in a beautiful blue dress with an orange hem.
The prince carefully holds his beloved. A reverent and tender attitude towards a girl can be immediately seen at first glance. Vasilisa is also tender to her chosen one and, out of fear, clung to Ivan, her luxurious long hair was loose and disheveled from the wind.
The picture is very rich in emotions and plot. The artist conveyed all the fabulousness and anxiety of the moment. The blossoming apple tree, which is located in the picture in the lower right corner, speaks of the beginning of love and a bright future.
Folk works are the kindest and most magical things there are for children. Fairy tales always contain brave heroes. In some works for children, animals help people in trouble.
Description 2
In the painting, the artist used a contrast of tones. The background is a gloomy forest, made with dark colors. The brown trunks of huge trees with twisted branches are densely covered with bluish lichens and greenish moss. There is no green foliage visible on them; they appear dead. The trees grow close to each other, forming an impenetrable thicket and blocking the sky. Even a small ray of sun does not penetrate their dark kingdom. In the background, an ominous white fog spreads between them, leading astray and hiding the road.
The forest is very inhospitable and scary. There are many broken branches and fallen trees. An abandoned place where no human has ever set foot. Only in the foreground, as a symbol of hope, a young, timid tree blossomed with snow-white flowers. Several more white spots indicate water lilies blooming on the water surface. The water in the swamp is the same dark green and cold as everything around.
Ivan Tsarevich makes his way through this thicket. His faithful friend Gray Wolf rushes as fast as he can to save him and Elena the Beautiful. The animal leaps across the swamp in large leaps. He is already tired, breathing heavily, his tongue hanging out, but does not stop. The wolf's fur is only slightly lighter than the surrounding landscape.
Ivan Tsarevich and his companion are depicted in light colors in the center of the picture; they stand out brightly against the background of a dark forest. The prince is wearing expensive clothes of light gold color and a blue belt. His sword, in its ornate scabbard, flutters as the wolf maneuvers. He frowned and carefully watched what was happening, his pursuers. His face is stern, concentrated, he does not intend to give up.
The princess in a pale blue robe embroidered with gold clung to the prince. She is young and beautiful. The girl's headdress is embroidered with precious stones, and there are pearl threads on her neck and arms. She was very tired, her face was pale and sad, without a hint of blush, her eyes were frozen. There is a sense of doom in her entire figure. She sits with her hands down, as if lifeless, hoping for nothing. Her long brown hair was disheveled. But the prince holds his beloved tightly, he will save her.
Looking at this picture, you feel anxiety for the main characters. I want them to get out of this dark forest as soon as possible.
Essay Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf by Vasnetsov
Most recently, I had the honor of familiarizing myself with Vasnetsov’s painting “Ivan the Tsarevich on a Gray Wolf.” Its author took as a basis one of my favorite fairy tales and depicted Ivan Tsarevich and Elena the Beautiful racing through the forest on a wolf. The dark forest surrounding them is dense, gloomy and scary, causing nothing less than fear and horror.
Based on the clothing of the characters depicted and the dark tones of the forest, one can determine that the event took place in the fall or early spring. And this is precisely what the plot itself emphasizes and makes clear the depth of fear and emotions of the fleeing heroes.
The author of the picture portrayed Ivan as brave, strong and courageous, and the beautiful Elena as tender, fragile, scared and tired, as she should be in life.
The canvas gave me a feeling of delight, because when I read the fairy tale as a child, I could not even imagine the feelings and experiences of the characters. And here everything is written so realistically, as if I were standing in that dense forest and watching a wolf and two horsemen run past me. The artist managed to depict the characters with such precision and chose the play of tones so well that they are about to jump out of the frame and run.
The plot of the film itself shows how the Tsarevich overcomes the difficult path that befalls him due to the violation of prohibitions. Under the paws of the wolf there is a swamp with water lilies, an old apple tree that has bent its still blooming branches to the ground, and thick fog can be seen between other trees. Elena and Tsarevich are the only bright spot on this canvas. The red royal clothes add pride and confidence to the hero, and the scarlet and gold robe of the beauty gives her tenderness and femininity.
In Ivan’s eyes you can read faith, hope for salvation and confidence. With strong and courageous hands, he gently presses Elena to him, thereby showing her that she is safe. However, the Beautiful is completely frightened and, out of hopelessness, lowered her hands and head onto the savior’s shoulder; it seems that she no longer wants anything, and she does not believe that salvation is close.
The wolf is depicted in such a way that it is immediately clear how fast they rush through the forest, running away from danger. And the tones with which the author painted the color of the wolf are much lighter than the general plan, thereby he probably wanted to show that “the wolf is not as terrible as they paint it” and that the animal is a friend to man.
Whatever the situation, dangerous or hopeless, there must always be faith in salvation and hope for the best.
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This painting was painted by Vasnetsov at the age of 38. At this time, Viktor Mikhailovich often thought about his past and future, what needed to be done, how to live and work in order to realize his plans. His position among artists was precarious, although he was praised, but he sensitively understood that the rejection of artists extended precisely to those works where he tried to express the Russian soul with greater force. In these works he did not think about himself and for some reason they did not receive the praise they deserved, causing cold misunderstanding among his colleagues. But the author, of course, did not think about universal approval when he worked on the paintings; there was only one desire, that, like himself, people would be imbued with love for the wondrous beauty of ancient Rus' and accept its history with all their hearts. The artist’s painting “Ivan Tsarevich on a Gray Wolf” was painted in 1889, when the author worked in Kyiv, in the Vladimir Cathedral. He interrupted his work in 1888 and began painting the painting “Ivan Tsarevich on a Gray Wolf.” After finishing work on the canvas, the painting was exhibited at a traveling art exhibition. The painting, which is an illustration of the famous Russian fairy tale, depicts the main character racing on the Gray Wolf with Elena the Beautiful through a dark forest, escaping from pursuit. The image of the princess was borrowed by Vasnetsov from a sketch of Savva Mamontov’s niece Natalia, written in 1883. In order to fully show the personification of fabulousness in the painting “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf,” Vasnetsov tried to move away from the realities of life and convey the mysterious spirit of Russian fairy tales, painting the world of people’s fantasies with different colors. And indeed, the action of the picture takes place in a mysterious fairy-tale forest among giant trees against the backdrop of the emerging morning dawn. With huge leaps, the gray wolf carries Elena the Beautiful and Ivan Tsarevich on his back through the dark gloomy forest, an atmosphere of anxiety and sadness reigns around the fairy-tale characters. Each of them understands that if they are caught up, separation will inevitably follow and their entire being is in fear. And meanwhile, Elena the Beautiful, who is in the strong hands of her savior, believes that Ivan Tsarevich, who always defeats his enemies, will win this time too. The author showed the wolf in the picture as powerful and huge. The blossoming apple tree in the foreground seems to tell the story of the beginning of a new love and life.
Brief history of creation
Main characters
Composition Analysis
Description of the painting “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf” by V. Vasnetsov
Ivan Tsarevich and Elena the Beautiful escape pursuit by rushing through dense forest thickets astride the Gray Wolf. The Tsarevich peers anxiously into the surrounding forest - if the fugitives are overtaken, inevitable separation awaits them. At the same time, he confidently and tightly holds Elena, who has practically submitted to fate and is frightenedly clinging to her savior, trying not to look around...
Brief history of creation
Vasnetsov’s canvas “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf” is rightfully considered one of the most fabulous works of Russian fine art. This painting was painted by the artist in 1889 during the period when he was working on the painting of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv. In order to create the painting, Vasnetsov interrupted work in the cathedral for some time. He took the popular folk tale “Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf” as the basis for the plot.
Main characters
The pose of Ivan Tsarevich and the expression on his face indicate that he is wary, but at the same time full of determination and courage. Strong and powerful, having repeatedly won victories in confrontations with the enemy, the Tsarevich inspires respect and trust. He carefully holds the hand of Elena the Beautiful, tired from the long and dangerous road.
The figure of the Gray Wolf is of particular interest to the viewer. This fabulous predator has human eyes, which means that the artist depicted a werewolf or werewolf (an ancient Slavic version of the name) in the picture. The Wolf's gaze is directed directly at the viewer. At the same time, there is nothing bloodthirsty and wild in his appearance. On the contrary, the image of a fairy-tale wolf is full of courage and devotion. The Gray Wolf is depicted by Vasnetsov as incredibly powerful. Moving in big leaps, he carries the Tsarevich and Elena through a dense forest where no man has ever set foot. One gets the feeling that the entire group of heroes seems to be floating above a swamp, surrounded by ominous forest thickets.
The wolf vigilantly peers into the space ahead, choosing a path. The open mouth and protruding tongue indicate that he is struggling to overcome fatigue and is holding on with all his strength. The wolf's paws are spread wide, and a long fluffy tail spreads in the wind.
The fabulousness of the plot is emphasized by the clothes of the main characters. Ivan Tsarevich is wearing an expensive brocade caftan, belted with a green sash. A sword is visible behind his back. The Tsarevich's caftan decorated with gold harmonizes perfectly with Elena's exquisite robe, made of blue silk. The combination of gold and blue colors in Slavic mythology indicates a connection with the world of magic and miracles.
Elena the Beautiful personifies a Russian beauty with long brown hair. Her neck is decorated with pearl beads, and her feet are wearing morocco boots. On the princess's head is an exquisite headdress decorated with precious stones.
The artist masterfully conveys through pictorial means the material of the main characters’ clothing. Looking at the canvas, the viewer feels the heaviness of brocade, velvet, morocco and gold embroidery.
Elena herself is sad, but her decoration looks elegant and joyful. This unusually feminine image was painted by Vasnetsov from his niece, Natalya Anatolyevna Mamontova. The main emphasis, as in the case of “Alenushka,” Vasnetsov placed not on external features, but on the heroine’s spiritual mood and pose.
The Gray Wolf is also not depicted as literally gray. His golden-brown fur seems to repeat the color of the clothes of the Tsarevich, whom he serves so faithfully.
Composition Analysis
The vertical composition of the painting evokes in the viewer a feeling of impending danger and alarming uncertainty. The main characters seem to be enclosed in a red quadrangle: the Tsarevich’s red hat, red scabbard, red boots and the red tongue of the wolf. It is the color red that helps create the feeling of approaching danger.
The surrounding landscape emphasizes the anxious mood of the fugitives. The action of the picture takes place against the backdrop of the morning dawn, in the foreground the swamp is menacingly dark, and the gray-purple sky is barely visible behind the thick branches of giant trees. The dense forest looks ominous. Huge trees covered with moss stand as an impenetrable wall, but they seem to make way for the good characters of the fairy tale, helping them escape from pursuit.
A blooming apple tree and marsh water lilies bring life to the gloomy landscape. The appearance of an apple tree near a forest swamp seems unusual and alarming. However, this detail is of great importance. It takes the viewer to the very beginning of the fairy-tale narrative. After all, it was from the apple tree that brought golden apples that the whole story began.
A blooming apple tree also symbolizes the beginning of a new life and love; it instills in the viewer hope that everything will end well. The silvery-white flowers of the tree echo Elena’s outfit and tie the entire color scheme of the picture into a single whole. The canvas is filled with a mysterious shimmer that evokes a feeling of touching a miracle.
Vasnetsov once again proved that he is an unsurpassed master of historical and folklore painting. You can describe what is happening in the picture with a line from a Russian folk tale: “The gray wolf rushed with Ivan Tsarevich, with Elena the Beautiful on the way back - he misses the blue forests, sweeps rivers and lakes with his tail...”.
The artist placed the characters diagonally, which creates a sense of movement.
The picture is made in contrasting colors, emphasizing the eternal struggle between good and evil. The dark colors in which the forest is depicted symbolize evil forces, anxiety and danger. The bright colors that dominate the appearance of the main characters emphasize their belonging to everything good and bright.
A fabulous painting about Helen the Beautiful and the Tsarevich immerses the viewer in the world of Russian folklore, helping to believe in the triumph of good over evil. Currently, the painting is in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Viktor Vasnetsov’s painting “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf” is perhaps one of the most folkloric works of Russian fine art. The plot of the film is based on the famous Russian folk tale “Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf.” Ivan Tsarevich and Elena the Beautiful, who he stole, flee from pursuit on the Gray Wolf, Ivan’s faithful friend. The prince looks around carefully and presses his beloved tightly to his chest. Elena, subdued and indifferent to what was happening, trustingly clung to her savior. She tries not to look around, scared of the chase, the dense forest, and even the wolf.
The viewer's special attention is attracted by the Gray Wolf with his human gaze. This is an unusual character: The Gray Wolf is a werewolf, a werewolf, as he was previously called. But both in the Russian folk tale and in the painting, his image is positive, full of courage and fidelity.
The gray wolf easily carries his riders away from pursuit. He runs barely touching the ground, as if soaring over a gloomy swamp in the middle of a dense forest. In the picture in this forest, swamp lilies and apple tree flowers stand out as bright spots. An apple tree in the middle of a dense forest, in a swamp? With this, the artist refers us to the plot of a folk tale - after all, the adventure began with an apple tree with golden apples.
The clothes of the heroes of the canvas are also fabulous. Ivan Tsarevich, dressed in a caftan embroidered with gold, and Elena in a silk blue dress complement each other stylistically. And the Gray Wolf is not gray at all, the color of his fur echoes the color of the prince’s clothes. The whole picture creates the mood of a fairy tale, a miracle, a riddle.
Year of painting: 1889.
Dimensions of the painting: 249 x 187 cm.
Material: canvas.
Writing technique: oil.
Genre: mythological painting.
Style: romanticism.
Gallery: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.
Other paintings by the artist:
Description of the painting by Viktor Vasnetsov “Alyonushka”
Description of the painting by Viktor Vasnetsov “Bogatyrs”
Description of the painting by Viktor Vasnetsov “The Knight at the Crossroads”
Essay based on the painting by V. M. Vasnetsov “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf”
The famous Russian artist Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov is an unsurpassed master of folklore and historical painting. His paintings “The Knight at the Crossroads”, “Alyonushka”, “Bogatyrs” and many others are widely known.
The painting “Tsarevich Ivan on the Gray Wolf” was painted by V. M. Vasnetsov in 1889 based on the plot of a famous Russian folk tale, lines from which are involuntarily remembered when viewing the painting:
“The gray wolf rushed with Ivan the Tsarevich, with Elena the Beautiful, on the way back - he lets the blue forests pass his eyes, sweeps rivers and lakes with his tail...”
Looking at the picture, the viewer seems to be immersed in a magical world, finding himself next to the main characters of the fairy tale: Ivan Tsarevich and Elena the Beautiful, who are riding the Gray Wolf away from the possessions of the evil king.
Sitting on his faithful friend, Ivan Tsarevich tightly and carefully hugs Elena the Beautiful. He is wearing a beautiful caftan made of expensive brocade, belted with a green sash, black gloves with a pattern, a red cap on his head and beautiful red boots. Ivan Tsarevich has a serious expression on his face. His big eyes anxiously peer into the distance: are they being chased? Will the villain take away his happiness? A sword can be seen behind the protagonist’s back: the good fellow is always ready to defend himself.
Sitting next to him is Vasilisa the Beautiful, a Russian beauty with long curly brown hair that flutters in the wind. She is wearing a beautiful light blue silk dress with gold trim on the sleeves and bottom of the robe. The beauty's neck is decorated with pearl beads. She has beautiful morocco boots on her feet. Her head is covered with a beautiful cap decorated with precious stones. The girl laid her head on the chest of her savior, she had a thoughtful look. The princess placed her fate in the hands of Ivan Tsarevich and humbly folded her hands in front of her. The image of Vasilisa the Beautiful was painted by the artist from his niece, Natalya Anatolyevna Mamontova.
The Gray Wolf is depicted in motion. He runs as fast as he can so that they don’t catch up with him. The fairy-tale character's ears are pressed to his head, his tongue protrudes from his huge toothy mouth, but his eyes do not express malice. Strong paws lifted off the ground to take another long leap across the swamp.
The heroes of the fairy tale are depicted against the background of a landscape. It can be seen that their path passes through an old forest. The centuries-old trees were overgrown with green moss, their bark was bursting and torn off in places. The forest is gloomy and scary, it symbolizes the evil forces that surrounded the main characters. There is an impenetrable thicket around. Gnarled dark branches hinder the fugitives. Beautiful white water lilies growing in the swamp and soft pink flowers of an old apple tree with bright green leaves symbolize hope for salvation and a happy ending.
The painting is made in contrasting colors: the dark colors of the forest are a symbol of evil forces, anxiety and danger. The main characters of the painting are painted in bright light colors - these are good, bright forces. The struggle between good and evil will certainly end with the victory of the former, as all Russian folk tales traditionally end.
V. M. Vasnetsov in the film “Ivan Tsarevich on the Gray Wolf” created the magical world of Russian folk tales. Re-reading Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf, one certainly remembers this work of painting, which remains in the memory inextricably linked with the Russian folk tale.
