The works of great masters, stored in the treasures of galleries and museums, open the curtain on how people sent off cold days and met the long-awaited spring. Maslenitsa was undoubtedly one of the most inspiring themes for their brush.
An Indigenous Russian Holiday
Dear friends! Today we turn our gaze to one of the most beloved folk holidays — Maslenitsa. This ancient, indigenous Russian holiday, whose roots go back to pagan times, is a symbol of saying goodbye to winter and a harbinger of spring.
In old times, Maslenitsa week was truly abundant in festive chores. Each day of the week had its own special name and was filled with unique traditions: Monday — "Meeting," Tuesday — "Flirting," Wednesday — "Treats," Thursday — "Revelry," Friday — "Mother-in-law's Evening," Saturday — "Sister-in-law's Gatherings," Sunday — "Forgiveness Day."
Surikov's "Assault on the Snow Town"
The painting is named after an ancient Siberian amusement popular on the last day of Maslenitsa. As a child, Surikov himself watched the assault on the snow town in his native Krasnoyarsk. The artist painted the figures on the canvas from his relatives and acquaintances.
"The Assault on the Snow Town" was first presented at the 19th traveling exhibition. Eight years later, the canvas attracted the attention of Vladimir von Meck, who bought it for 10,000 rubles. In 1908, the large-scale work was acquired for the Russian Museum.
Makovsky's "Folk Festivity..."
Konstantin Makovsky's 1869 canvas transports the viewer to the very center of St. Petersburg, where life boils during Maslenitsa festivities. Makovsky masterfully recreated a crowded scene, depicting more than a hundred characters with the finest details.
Here you can see the entire spectrum of urban society. The heart of the composition is the noisy market rows where townspeople buy traditional Maslenitsa treats. For this painting, Konstantin Makovsky received the high title of Professor of the Academy of Arts.
Kustodiev's "Maslenitsa"
It is surprising that this remarkable, cheerful, and colorful canvas was created by Boris Kustodiev during a severe illness. Excruciating pain confined the artist to a wheelchair, seemingly forever depriving him of the ability to create.
"Maslenitsa" is not just a painting, but a living testimony of how vigorously and merrily they met spring in ancient Russian cities.
You can see Kustodiev's masterpiece "Maslenitsa" at the Tretyakov Gallery.