The artist Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov stood at the origins of the new, Soviet pictorial art. His brush belongs to many official, "ceremonial" and informal, "everyday" portraits of the leaders of the first persons of the state, including Lenin and Stalin, representatives of the Bolshevik, communist intelligentsia. He also captured the most important events in the life of the country - the launch of the metro station, the round date of the celebration of the October Revolution. A multiple winner of the Stalin Prize, awarded with medals and orders, including the Order of Lenin, Honored Artist, First President of the Academy of Arts, Alexander Mikhailovich, at the same time, did not consider these works to be the main ones in his work. His most expensive brainchild was a small canvas, very simple in plot, which, however, reflected the true soul of a great Artist, Master.
"Wet Terrace"
This is Gerasimov's painting "After the Rain", the second name of which is "Wet Terrace". It is known to every schoolchild for which generation it has been included in the school curriculum as a manual for teaching writing essays. Reproductions from the canvas are placed in Russian language textbooks for grades 6-7 (various editions). The very same painting by Gerasimov "After the Rain" is in one of the exhibition halls of the Tretyakov Gallery. It was painted in oil on canvas, the size of the work is small - 78 by 85 cm. Spectators invariably crowd in front of the canvas, carefully peer into the details, study, admire, absorb.
Best Creation
In Soviet painting, especially the first half of the 20th century, there are very few works of this type, like Gerasimov's painting "After the Rain". Subtle lyricism, surprisingly accurate rendering of the poetically pure, fresh atmosphere of summer nature washed by rain, juicy color, special energy - all this makes the artist's work very special. No wonder the master of her and only her considered his best creation. Time has confirmed the prioritization. Of course, the bright talent of the author is clearly demonstrated in his other works. But it was Gerasimov's painting "After the Rain" that survived ideological storms and disputes and turned out to be out of time, out of the politicization of art, proving its real aesthetic value.
Creating a masterpiece
Let's fast forward to 1935. What is happening at this time in the USSR? Firstly, the 7th Congress of Soviets, significant for important state decisions. The congress of collective farm shock workers, at which the working peasantry reports to the government about their loyalty to the chosen course. The movement of multi-machine weavers begins. The first line of the Moscow metro is being launched. Being in the thick of events, Gerasimov responds to them with bright, original creativity. By 1935, he was promoted to the forefront of the best masters of socialist painting. However, the artist more and more clearly feels a certain spiritual breakdown, fatigue and a desire to abandon everything and go home, to the distant provincial town of Kozlov, in the Tambov region, to rest.
It was there that Gerasimov's painting "After the Rain" was painted. The history of the creation of the masterpiece has come down to us in the memoirs of his sister. The artist was delighted with the garden completely transformed after a heavy downpour, a wet terrace sparkling like a mirror with the extraordinary freshness and fragrance of the air, the most unusual atmosphere reigning in nature. In feverish impatience, taking up the palette, Alexander Mikhailovich in one breath, in just 3 hours, painted a canvas that entered the golden fund of Russian and Soviet landscape painting.
Starting to analyze the work (element of the lesson)
As already mentioned, Gerasimov's painting "After the Rain" is analyzed in the school course. An essay on it helps to develop the skills of coherent written speech, the creative abilities of students, contributes to the formation of aesthetic taste, a subtle perception of nature. Let's join the wonderful canvas. In what year Gerasimov's painting "After the Rain" was painted, we already know - in 1935, in the summer. In the foreground we see a corner of a wooden terrace. It is dazzlingly shiny, as if carefully polished and varnished. The heaviest summer rain has just ended. Nature has not yet had time to come to its senses, all alarmed and disheveled, and the last drops are still no, no, yes, and break down with a resounding thud on the wooden floorboards. Dark brown, with standing puddles, they reflect every object like a mirror. The breaking sun leaves its warm golden reflections on the floor.
Foreground
What is unusual about Gerasimov's painting "After the Rain"? The description of the canvas is difficult to do in parts, fragments. It has an amazing effect on the viewer as a whole. Every detail of Gerasimov's work is significant and harmonious. Here is the railing and the bench. Closer to the inside of the veranda, they are darker, since this part of the terrace is less lit. But where the rare sun still falls, there are more and more golden highlights, and the color of the tree itself is warm, yellow-brown shades.
To the left of the viewer on the terrace is a table on elegant carved legs. The figured tabletop, dark in itself, seems completely black because the wood is wet. Like everything around, it sparkles like a mirror, reflecting both an overturned glass, and a jug with a bouquet, and the sky that is getting brighter after a thunderstorm. Why did the artist need this piece of furniture? It organically fits into the environment, without it the terrace would be empty, giving the impression of an uninhabited, uncomfortable. The table brings into the picture a hint of a friendly family, hospitable tea parties, a joyful, cordial atmosphere. A glass glass, turned upside down by a whirlwind and miraculously not falling, speaks of how strong the wind and downpour were. Disheveled flowers in a bouquet, scattered petals hint at the same. White, red and pink roses look especially touching and defenseless. But we can imagine how sweet and gentle they smell now, washed by the rain. This jug and roses in it look unusually poetic. 
The background of the painting
And outside the terrace, the garden is noisy and rampant. Raindrops roll down from wet foliage in large beads. It is clean, dark green, bright, fresh, the kind that comes only after a refreshing downpour. Looking at the picture, you begin to very clearly feel the heady smell of wet greenery and sun-warmed earth, flowers from the garden and something else very dear, close, dear, for which we love nature. Behind the trees you can see the roof of the barn, in the gaps of the branches - the sky is whitening, brightening after a thunderstorm. Lightness, enlightenment, the joy of being, we feel, admiring the wonderful work of Gerasimov. And we learn to be attentive to nature, to love it, to notice its amazing beauty.
Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov is a bright representative of socialist realism in painting. He became famous for his portraits depicting party leaders. But there are also very lyrical works in his work, landscapes, still lifes, images of Russian life. Thanks to them, “After the Rain” is known today (description of the painting, history of creation, expressiveness) - this is the topic of this article.
curriculum vitae
Gerasimov A.M. Born in the family of a merchant from the city of Kozlov (modern Michurinsk) in the Tambov Region on August 12, 1881. In this town he spent his childhood and youth, he liked to come here even when he became a famous artist.
From 1903 to 1915 he studied at the Moscow Art School, immediately after which he was mobilized to the front, there was the First World War. From 1918 to 1925 the artist lived and worked in his native city, and then returned to Moscow, joined the Association of Artists and a few years later became its president.
Gerasimov A.M. experienced periods of ups and downs, was loved by the artist Stalin, received a large number of professional awards and titles. And in the days of Khrushchev, he fell out of favor.
The artist died in 1963, 3 weeks before his 82nd birthday.
The creative path of the artist
Gerasimov studied with the largest painters of the late XIX - early XX centuries - K.A. Korovina, A.E. Arkhipov, At the beginning of his career, he painted mainly pictures of folk life, depicted Russian nature with its modest and touching beauty. During this period, the following were created: “The Rye was Mowed” (1911), “Heat” (1912), “A Bouquet of Flowers. Window "(1914).
In Soviet times, the artist turned to Gerasimov. Gerasimov showed a talent for surprisingly accurately grasping characteristic features, achieving great portrait resemblance. Gradually, among the heroes of his canvases, high-ranking people, party leaders and leaders begin to prevail: Lenin, Stalin, Voroshilov and others. His paintings are distinguished by a solemn mood and are not devoid of a somewhat poster-like pathos.
By the mid-30s of the XX century, the artist became the largest representative of socialist realism in painting. In 1935 he left for his hometown to take a break from work and spend time with his family. It was in Kozlov that A.M. Gerasimov "After the Rain" - a picture that brought him fame as an excellent landscape painter.
During the years of Stalin's rule, Gerasimov held responsible leadership positions. He headed the Moscow branch of the Union of Artists, the Association of Soviet Artists, the Academy of Arts of the USSR.
The history of the painting "After the rain" by Gerasimov
The artist's sister told about the history of the creation of the painting. The family was relaxing on the terrace of their house when suddenly it began to rain heavily. But Alexander Mikhailovich did not hide from him, as the rest of the household did. He was shocked by how the drops of water accumulated on the foliage, on the floor, on the table shimmered with different colors, how fresh and transparent the air became, how, having fallen on the ground in a downpour, the sky began to brighten and clear. He ordered to bring him a palette and in just three hours he created a stunningly expressive landscape. The artist Gerasimov called this picture - "After the rain."
However, the landscape, written so quickly and swiftly, was not accidental in the artist's work. Even while studying at the school, he liked to depict wet objects: roads, plants, roofs of houses. He managed to convey the glare of light, bright, rain-washed colors. Perhaps for many years A.M. went to this landscape. Gerasimov. "After the Rain" was the result of creative searches in this direction. There would be no such background, we would not see the described canvas.
A.M. Gerasimov "After the Rain": a description of the painting
The plot of the picture is surprisingly simple and concise. A corner of a wooden deck, a bouquet of flowers on a round dining table, and lush greenery in the background. By the brilliance of wooden surfaces, the viewer understands that heavy rain has recently ended. But moisture does not create a feeling of dampness and discomfort. On the contrary, it seems that the downpour muffled the summer heat and filled the space with freshness.
It is felt that the picture was created in one breath. There is no tension and heaviness in it. She absorbed the mood of the artist: light, peaceful. The greenery of the trees and flowers in the bouquet are written slightly carelessly. But the viewer easily forgives this to the artist, realizing that he was in a hurry to catch this wonderful moment of harmony with nature.
Expressive means
This landscape (A.M. Gerasimov "After the Rain"), the description of the painting, the expressive means used by the artist, give art critics reason to talk about the high painting technique of the author. Despite the fact that the picture looks simple and even careless, it showed the talent of the master. Rain water made the colors more saturated. Wooden surfaces not only shine, but also reflect the color of greenery, flowers and the sun, cast in silver and gold.
An overturned glass on the table also attracts attention. Such a seemingly insignificant detail clarifies a lot, makes the plot easy to read. It becomes clear that the rain began unexpectedly and rapidly, took people by surprise, forced them to hastily collect dishes from the table. Only one glass and a bouquet of garden flowers were forgotten.
A.M. himself considered one of his best works. Gerasimov - "After the rain". The description of the painting presented in this article shows that this work is one of the most significant not only in the artist's work, but in all of Soviet painting.
Composition
Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov is a famous Soviet artist whose works belong to the realism and socialist realism trends. Many of his paintings - landscapes, still lifes, portraits related to these areas - amaze with their liveliness and brilliance. Gerasimov's landscapes are seemingly simple, but in each work you can find something that will touch the soul, cause a surge of emotions, and be remembered for a long time. However, his work “After the Rain” (“Wet Terrace”) stands out among the other canvases of the artist. The creator himself paid special attention to this particular work in his memoirs about life and work.
This picture, painted in one breath in the painter's hometown of Kozlov, is not a momentary creation. Having left for a quiet town for the sake of a quiet and relaxing pastime, the artist, however, continues to create. Still lifes and portraits, sketches of landscapes, captivating with calm beauty, are born here.
The moral and creative preparation of the artist for writing this work went on for a long time. Gerasimov often sketched grass, objects, roads and roofs wet from rain. Many recognized that the artist succeeds in this experience especially well.
In her memoirs, the creator's sister colorfully described the creation of the picture: on the day the canvas was painted, there was a particularly strong and stormy summer downpour. After him, nature looked unusually fresh and picturesque: the water, sparkling in the sun, lay on the foliage, the floor of the veranda, the paths of the garden. And above the trees of the garden the freshly washed cloudless sky receded into the distance.
Admiring the view opening before him, the artist stood at the easel. Literally in three hours one of the most picturesque canvases of the artist was painted.
What attracts this light, even poetic work? The painting depicts a rather ordinary landscape - a corner of a gazebo or veranda with carved railings and a bench along them. The composition of the work is extremely simple: on the right, somewhat disturbing the balance, there is an old table with a vase in which there are flowers - most likely, simple garden flowers. On the left plan - the floor and the railing and bench going to the right. Everywhere: on the floor, bench, table - water shimmers and glistens, and immediately behind the gazebo the garden begins, also wet from the recent rain.
The colors are clean, bright, joyful - the green of wet foliage, the gold and dark bronze of a rain-washed tree, the clear azure of the sky that begins behind the veranda and is reflected in puddles on the floor. A bouquet in a vase stands out as a special color spot - a cheerful and pleasant pink color combined with white and green.
The picture does not leave behind a feeling of straining, artificiality. The images captured by the artist are fresh and light, direct and pure - they feel the swiftness and lightness of the brush of the painter himself.
How is such an effect of reliability and at the same time lightness of the image achieved? When working on the canvas, the artist used the technique of reflexes - this is the name of the artistic and visual technique, in which small details play a huge role. In this case, the key points that create a special mood of purity and freshness are reflections and reflections: juicy green strokes on the veranda are reflections of overhanging garden greenery, bluish and pink spots on the table are reflections and reflections left on a wet surface by a bright spot of the bouquet. The entire canvas is permeated with an interweaving of shadows and light, but the shadows do not leave an oppressive and oppressive feeling, on the contrary, they are colorful and multi-colored. A lot of silver and mother-of-pearl are sun glare on wet surfaces and leaves. When creating images of wet surfaces, the painter used the glazing technique to achieve the effect of special authenticity. When using such a tool, the paint is applied in several layers - first, the main stroke of paint, then several translucent and completely transparent strokes. At the same time, surfaces and objects painted in this technique look brilliant, as if varnished. This becomes especially noticeable in the fragments of the picture depicting a section of the plank floor of the veranda, the surface of a long bench, and a table top.
The contrasting spot is the bouquet, painted in deliberately rough, broad strokes. Thanks to this, the flowers look especially impressive - voluminous and lively.
You should also pay attention to lighting accents. It is thanks to them that the picture looks lively and somewhat solemn. The main sources of light are outside the perspective of the canvas - somewhere behind the trees of the garden. At the same time, the light is dim, it does not hit the eyes - it creates the effect of a summer sun peeking out from behind the clouds, passing after noon and heading for sunset. The trees in the background of the canvas, as if woven from thousands of shimmering green glass and reminiscent of stained glass work, are illuminated along the contour and thus isolated from the overall composition of the picture. This artistic technique is called counter-jour.
The general mood of the picture is fresh, sparkling, joyful. The artist managed to reveal the poetry and beauty of ordinary, rather mundane things. The beauty of the objects depicted is simple and unsophisticated, but with the help of these very simple things, flooded with water, the creator also conveyed the freshness of a cool garden still covered with rainwater.
The sincerity and purity of feelings that Gerasimov was able to convey to his work fascinate and charge with a special energy of freshness. It seems that you will reach out your hand, touch the clean, still wet leaves of a hanging branch - and cool drops will pleasantly refresh your skin after a stuffy and hot summer day. A fresh breeze will bring with it the smell of wet earth and grass, the sun, gently looking into the gaps between the trees, will touch your cheek - and here it is, simple and sincere, like the picture itself, the happiness of being close to nature will overwhelm you, like a stormy downpour that has just passed.
An essay based on the painting “After the Rain” is included in the school curriculum. Usually students of the sixth or seventh grade face this task. The gentle landscape and the terrace refreshed after the rain evoke a variety of emotions in the viewer.
The author of the canvas
This image was left for us. The painting “After the Rain”, an essay on which you have to write, captured the most ordinary state of nature.
But before starting work on the canvas itself, it is worth saying a few words about the creator himself.
Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov gained fame in the first half of the last century. Not only was he very talented by nature, he also had a professional art education. In addition, he also graduated from the Faculty of Architecture and devoted himself entirely to his beloved work - creativity.
He himself considered himself a master of the portrait, but more than once turned to the landscape.
He gained wide popularity after he painted portraits of famous Russian leaders - Lenin and Stalin.
Alexander Mikhailovich occupied quite large posts in the field of art and had great influence. During his life he was awarded many awards.
Plot
After a brief biography of the artist, it is worth starting to analyze the plot of the canvas. The essay-description of the painting (Gerasimov) “After the Rain” must include this item.
What is unusual about this image? The answer is simple: nothing special. The artist captured a green garden and a veranda after a fresh rain. Perhaps this is the terrace of his own country house. Impressed by what he saw, the artist decided to immediately describe the beauty and at the same time the simplicity of nature.
Everything around is green and fresh. You can even feel how pleasant and humid the air is after a summer downpour. The color scheme will also be included in the composition based on the painting "After the Rain".
It is very rich and juicy. At some point, it may seem to the viewer that in front of him is not a picture, but a high-quality photograph, everything is so plausibly and wonderfully depicted. The bench and the floor, as if varnished, shine from the water. It can be seen that the rain has passed quite recently, and the moisture has not yet had time to evaporate. It must have been very strong, since the entire terrace was flooded with water.
Background
Composition-description of the painting by A.M. Gerasimov "After the Rain" let's start with the analysis of distant objects. The first thing that catches your eye is the green garden. May or June is probably depicted on the canvas, since the trees are in full bloom. In the thick of the green foliage one can see some small structure. It can be assumed that this is where suburban residents have breakfast or lunch in the fresh air. Or is it a barn that stores the tools necessary to care for the garden. Or maybe it's a bath? We don't know for sure. But this object is very well inscribed in the general atmosphere of the picture.
The grass is very bright, juicy, pale green. It's nice to run on this even after the rain has passed.
A fragment of the sky is visible on the canvas. It's still gray, but it's starting to lighten up. It seems that the sun's rays at all costs want to break through the clouds.
All nature seemed to wake up from sleep, awakened by a warm downpour.
Foreground
What should an essay-description of a painting contain first? Gerasimov “After the Rain” most likely wrote from nature, the objects of the foreground are outlined in such detail.
Here we will talk about the terrace itself. There is a feeling that she was washed clean. Everything shines so much that you can see the railing and table legs in the reflection of the floor. On the bench, we see the reflection of the sun's rays, which creates a glitter effect. To the left of it is a table on beautiful carved legs. Undoubtedly, this piece of furniture is high-quality handmade. He, too, is full of glare.
The artist managed to depict the state of nature after the rain so skillfully that it may seem to the viewer that he is very close to the scene and is watching what is happening.
The essay on the painting “After the Rain” includes information that the shades of colors in the foreground are darker than those in the background. Probably, Alexander Mikhailovich placed his easel in the center of the veranda in order to fully embrace the beautiful view. Thus, elements of nature and human life are intertwined on the canvas.
It is amazing how the artist was able to convey not only the beauty of the moment itself, but his mood: joyful, surprised.
Central images
The most important object of this picture is the table and what is on it.
The essay-description of the painting “After the Rain” must necessarily reflect how accurately the author managed to convey the moment after the natural disaster. We see that the glass on the table has fallen. Perhaps, quite recently, someone drank water from it. But now, under the influence of wind and rain, he fell. The table is flooded with water, and it is not clear for sure whether it spilled from a glass or whether it was due to rain. To the left of the glass is a vase of flowers. Red, pink, white, they stand out as a bright spot in the picture. The downpour was probably so heavy that the petals of the cypions fell on the table.
Of course, after such an element, you can’t sit down on a wet bench and at such a wet table. But, nevertheless, there is no unpleasant feeling of dampness. The air is saturated with pleasant and fresh moisture. I just want to take a deep breath in order to feel the same aroma that Gerasimov himself felt at that moment. The painting “After the Rain”, an essay on which you need to write, conveys a light and wonderful state of nature.
Outcome
This painting is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. At the moment, it is stored in the Tretyakov Gallery, so anyone can see its original.
It seems that the artist, having seen such an amazing picture of nature, immediately grabbed his easel and paints so as not to miss a single detail. The creator himself considered this work of art one of his best works. And you can't argue with that.
After carefully studying this landscape, you can easily cope with the task and write an essay on the painting “After the Rain”, since it makes an indelible impression on every viewer.
What could be more beautiful on a summer day than the freshness brought by the rain. It hovers in a special smell of the air, in clearly traced pictures of the surrounding nature, in the incredibly joyful trills of birds. Gerasimov A.M. clearly loved these moments, which give great fullness to the feelings of a person, expanding their range. “After the Rain” is a picture that allows you to plunge into memories of the joys of summer days at any time of the year. What dreams does the painting give rise to? What are the aspirations?
The strikingly bright talent of the artist managed to convey the time that each of the people loves. After all, it has some kind of its own elusive charm, it awakens deep in the soul of a person both joy and sadness. Flashed emotions help to look at life in a new way and see even more good in it.
The picture shows a terrace with simple furniture and a wooden floor. In the background you can see a garden with some buildings. All this is well washed by the rain, therefore it is decorated with even brighter colors with rich hues, shimmers and sparkles thanks to the sunlight that has just appeared. The picture is so positive that it is impossible to immediately look away or think about something other than the mood that is conveyed by it. A.M. Gerasimov managed, in my opinion, to convey both the mood and the details so accurately that the viewer could feel the holiday of a summer day with him. It's nice to think that someone cut the flowers, which smell like this because of the fresh air, and put them in a transparent glass jar. Now drops of rain, and a gentle wind tousled them. And tender petals are scattered on the table. This adds a certain romantic note to the picture, brings fresh colors to its description. My fantasy immediately adds what happened before the rain, and what will happen, as soon as the final touch on the finished picture is done.
I suppose that the people in the garden and on the terrace had fun until large drops predicted rain for them, and then they ran into the house with loud laughter and jokes. They began to look out the windows to see if the water flows would end. And the rain kept pouring and pouring. But in an instant, the drops began to fall quieter, less often, smaller. Rain stopped! There was a revival in the house, everyone started talking about future plans. And only the unfailing romantic saw the perfect picture worth capturing. He rushed for brushes and paints. Over time, the rest understood his intentions, calmed down and began to enjoy, almost without breathing, watching the skillful movements of the brush of the great artist. No one expected that this day would end with a masterpiece!
