Art has an extraordinary power to convey the essence of an era, culture or emotion. Mykhailo Vrubel, a young artist who became famous at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, possessed such a unique ability. One of his works, "Girl on the Background of a Persian Carpet", not only demonstrates his exceptional talent, but also opens a window into the aesthetic sensibilities of that time.
Mykhailo Vrubel is a prominent master of watercolor and oil painting, a Pole by origin. He created illustrations for books, monumental works, portraits, and was fond of scenography.
Vrubel's art was known for its distinct combination of symbolism, romanticism, and Art Nouveau influences, making his works both innovative and emotionally charged. He had a penchant for exploring themes of mythology, folklore, and the human psyche, often with mystical and dreamlike features.
"Self-portrait", 1885, Kyiv Art Gallery
Vrubel painted The Girl on the Background of a Persian Carpet in 1886, during a period when he was experimenting with different artistic styles and techniques in Kyiv. This painting is a prime example of his fascination with the female form and his use of rich, vibrant colors.
The painting depicts a young woman sitting on a Persian carpet. The theatrical clothes of the girl correspond to the theatrical imagination of the viewer of the 19th century. about the Arab East. It is about the reign of luxury: tents, waterfalls of pearls and sweets.
Girl in front of a Persian carpet, Vrubel, 1886, Kyiv National Art Gallery
However, all this had nothing to do with the reality of the Muslim part of the world at that time, with its slave markets, the entrenched status of women, diseases, crowds of beggars, religious fanaticism. The Muslim world of that time lost the competition with Western European civilization and was in a state of stagnation. But the inertia of "Tales of 1000 and One Night" was still rolling around the world and captured the imagination of artists of various genres.
The thin features of the girl's face were framed by loose brown hair, which cascaded down her back, adding to her mystery. She radiated contemplation and calmness, and her eyes seemed to hold secrets that invited the viewer to ponder her thoughts.
The Persian carpet, on the background of which the girl was depicted, is a wonder of intricate patterns and colors. Vrubel's attention to detail is evident in every thread as he meticulously repeats the design of the rug. This background serves not only as an aesthetic background, but also as a symbol of exoticism and the unknown, emphasizing the allure of the Orient that captivated many Europeans during this period.
The artist tried three times to sell the painting at auction, but it was all in vain. In Kyiv, which was provincial at the time, it was difficult to find a knowledgeable supporter of modern secular painting. However, the painting was bought for 300 rubles by the sugar magnate Mykola Tereshchenko, who already had paintings by Russian artists. During the times of the USSR, his art collection was nationalized and became the basis of the modern Kyiv National Art Gallery.
A girl on the background of a Persian carpet (1886) on the Ukrpochta stamp, 2018
Today, the painting does not often leave its native walls and Kyiv. Only visitors to a few exhibitions in Italy, France and Great Britain were able to see it outside of modern Ukraine.
Source: knag.museum
