The painting “For Mushrooms” by Ivan Shishkin is the harmony of Russian nature and the simple joys of village life

“For Mushrooms” is a painting by Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin, which combines the genre of landscape familiar to him with a scene of rural life. Peasant women settled down on the bank of the reservoir. They have worked hard, carrying full baskets. One of them, looking like a young girl, even filled her apron. Before returning home, the women stopped to rest. They have a boy with them. He looks back at the last member of the gathering, under a storm-damaged old oak tree. Perhaps it is his mother who has lagged behind the rest.

The edge of a dense forest comes close to residential areas. If you look closely, in the distance to the right, you can see a fence. Birds are circling in the cloudy sky. At the water’s edge, the last flowers of the water iris loom. The presence of people does not violate the harmony of nature. Everything here is subject to the natural course of time: the approaching autumn with rich gifts, the old dilapidated giant, the young growth behind him, the elderly village women and young people.

The master captured an idyllic picture, using soft tones, various shades of green. Among them, one can already guess the brown and yellow colors inherent in the end of summer. The sun is getting less, there are no contrasting shadows, the mushroom pickers are wearing warm clothes.

Name of the painting: “For mushrooms.”
Author: Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898).
Year of writing: 1870.
Size: 66.5 x 55.5 cm.
Style: Realism.
Genre: Landscape.
Technique: Oil painting.
Material: Canvas.
Location: State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin is a singer of Russian nature, a remarkable artist of the 19th century.

He left behind a large number of works, the main character of which was the forest. The painter worked out every detail, with his characteristic naturalism, highlighting just enough to create the general impression of a living corner.

This manner, characteristic of the mature work of Shishkin, can also be seen in the landscape with village mushroom pickers. The painting “For Mushrooms” by Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin was acquired by Ya. I. Savich for his private collection. In 1917, the work was transferred to the State Russian Museum, where it is kept to this day.