European Art and Old Masters

Note

With his ability to capture the effects of sunlight and shadow, and to deftly portray the atmosphere of a landscape by highlighting both its natural and sublime elements, Ivan Choultsé is considered one of Russia's most well regarded painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, he received his formal training from the celebrated miniaturist and painter Konstantin Krijitsky. While still in his twenties, the artist traveled throughout Asia, North Africa and Europe, painting sunny, summer landscapes in the Mediterranean and sparkling, snowy scenes in Switzerland, before eventually establishing residency in Paris. There, he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1923, after which the demand for his work increased substantially. His solo show at Galérie Gerald Frères, where his work sold out on the first day, led to another one-man exhibition in London as well as the Exposition Universelle in Paris. Amongst his many accolades, the highest was his election to serve as Czar Nicholas II's Court Painter, assuming the prior role of his former teacher.

The present work depicts a hilly landscape covered in snow as the November sun sets down in the distance. Choultsé often depicted such winter landscapes, admiring their pristine beauty and inherent quietude. The soft color palette of blues, pinks, and purples creates a serene and inviting scene bathed in what is left of winter light as shown by the shadow, slowly progressing across the canvas.