Valaam Island in the paintings of Russian artists
This island in Karelia has inspired painters of different epochs and styles. How did Shishkin, Kuindzhi and Roerich see it?
The first picturesque images of Valaam appeared in the middle of the 19th century, when steamship communication between the island and the “mainland” was opened. Since then, artists have grown very fond of these places.
1. The very first painting of Valaam was painted by artist Anton Ivanov, who literally “discovered” this destination for others.
Anton Ivanov. ‘Valaam Island at Sunset’, 1843.
2. Ivan Davydov. ‘View of Valaam’, 1853.
3. Mikhail Klodt. ‘View of Valaam Island’, 1857.
4. Ivan Shishkin, one of the most famous Russian painters, came here many times to paint the local forests and boulders overgrown with moss. He was not alone there, but together with his friends, artists Alexander Gine and Pavel Dzhogin.
Ivan Shishkin. ‘View of Valaam Island (Kukko)’, 1859.
5. Alexander Gine. ‘Storm on Valaam’, mid-19th century.
6. Pavel Dzhogin.‘On Valaam’, 1865.
7. Arkhip Kuindzhi visited these parts in the early 1870s. As artist Ilya Repin later said, it was after visiting Valaam that Kuindzhi's “original creative activity” began. This painting was his first work, which was bought by collector Pavel Tretyakov. Today, it can be seen in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Arkhip Kuindzhi. ‘On the Island of Valaam’, 1873.
8. The Roerich family visited the island several times. In this painting, Nicholas Roerich depicted the island and a boat with two elders, the founders of the Valaam Monastery.
Nicholas Roerich. ‘Holy Island’, 1917.
