Golden Autumn is a painting by Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900) in 1895.

The artist depicted a corner of Central Russian nature with a river, fields and houses in the distance, but first of all, trees with bright autumn foliage attract the eye. Their gold contrasts with the blue of the sky and the surface of the river. Traditionally, autumn is considered a time of wilting and melancholy, but this landscape looks solemn and brings joy. The yellow birch leaves are painted with energetic pasty strokes. This is how the influence of impressionism manifests itself, although in general the work gravitates towards realism.

Author: Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900).
Year of writing: 1895.
Size: 82 × 126 cm.
Style: Realism. Genre: Landscape.
Technique: Oil painting.
Material: Canvas.
Location: State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.

Isaac Levitan is the best Russian landscape painter

He, like no one, could convey the national character and mood through the beautiful views of nature. The artist loved autumn landscapes most of all and created more than a hundred of them. “Golden Autumn” has become the most famous among them, although it is not typical for the author’s work. As a rule, he chose softer and softer colors, and this work is the embodiment of brightness and fullness of feelings.

The change in mood in a painting manner is explained by the artist’s new heartfelt passion. At that time, he met Anna Turchaninova, who came with her daughters to her estate Gorka in the Tver province. There, sketches for the picture were written – the depicted corner of nature was within walking distance from the estate. The work was completed in Moscow and presented to the public at the 24th exhibition of the Itinerants.

Soon Pavel Tretyakov (1832-1898) bought it for the gallery for 700 rubles. It is interesting that Levitan himself called this picture rough and a year later created another version with the same name – it is also kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. Anton Chekhov adhered to a similar opinion and reproached “Golden Autumn” with excessive bravura and decorativeness, because of which there was no place for subtlety and sincerity. But the audience decided otherwise: the landscape received numerous admiring reviews. Today this work is the calling card of Isaac Levitan.