As a tribute to Moscow’s coldest day of the season — this far, -25C by day, -30C by night — here’s the next installment of the Russians’ artistic tributes to glorious Winter.
Blessing of the Water on Baptism, by Boris Kustodiev. Baptism Frosts in Russia are legendary, so naturally this is when Russians jump into ice holes made in rivers, lakes and ponds for this High Holiday — by the thousands.
Winter, by Ivan Shishkin. One of my favorite winter paintings of all time, because of how true it is to real Russian forest.
Troika, Suzdal, by Veniamin Sibirsky. Troika is a Russian carriage or sled pulled by three horses. Suzdal is an ancient Russian town.
A Winter Dream, by Appolinary Vasnetsov.
Winter, by Isaak Brodsky. Cold and snow do not stand in the way of the Russians’ daily life.
Fairytale Frost with the Rising Sun, by Igor Grabar. Just like this morning.
Home & Away 
That last one really speaks to me. Wish we had some snow here.
We still have too little for my liking, but what we have is very pretty indeed, especially early in the morning.
Love all of these, especially the first!
I vowed to do the Baptism dip for 3 winters in a row, still havent mastered up the courage 🙂
Brrrrrrrr! It’s 19 degrees today, and my dear darling friends is complaining about the ‘cold’.
Last January was even colder! I am actually used to it – took a nice, brisk walk through the park after work last night.
Oh, I am with Jennifer, the Grabar is marvelous. I adore it. Although there is something magical about the Sibirsky and the Vasnetsov as well. Where is the “all of the Above” button?
Sotheby’s? 🙂
Grabar is probably the most acclaimed Russian impressionist and winters were his favorite subject.
Beautiful pictures, I especially like the Ivan Shishkin picture, so lifelike.
He is my favorite artist of all time!
These are beautiful! Very talented, the Russian folk 😉
We try. Yes, I am taking credit!
Well, you created this lovely inspiration post! You get SO much credit!
Were you ever a cheerleader? Cause you’re GREAT at it!
hahaha I’m just easily excitable..
I like ‘A Winter Dream’ but I wouldn’t want to live there 😉 I feel like a year is being taken off my life every time I step outside the door these days. FREEZING. Even the Latvians are cold 😉 The wind is howling around my apartment right now, but at least I’m inside with a nice glass of wine and not outside almost being swept into the street like I was earlier 😉
You get the nasty sea-side winter. It’s why -5C in NYC felt colder than -25C in Moscow. That kind of cold gets inside your bones.
These are so beautiful, thanks for posting them. It’s making me miss winter! (41 degrees centigrade here at the moment!)
Oh dear, where are you? I forgot what that heat feels like!
Melbourne, Australia. This summer is never ending!
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Beautiful!!!
I love ‘Winter, by Isaak Brodsky’ and the impressionist style of work by by Igor Grabar the best.
Yay diversity! Usually Grabar gets ALL the love when I do these posts, it’s nice to see someone going for something different 🙂 Though I try not to play favorites with these line-ups, A Winter Dream is exactly what the season in Russia is supposed to be like.
Damn, I still have not seen any snow this winter. I think I have missed my chance. Looks so pretty in those pics. Stay warm Anna.
Amazing how realistic the second one is, It´s like a photograph! I looked up also some of his other works and they´re equally breathtaking, especially the one called In The Wild North. Highly reccomend to check it out, it´s eerie!
Shishkin is indeed amazing, and Wild North actually made it into my first Winter compilation here: https://gohomeandaway.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/russian-winter-in-russian-art-part-1/
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