Jerusalem

Praised by Ilya Repin and Maxim Gorky for his artistic talent, unique style and pictorial language, Konstantin Gorbatov created airy, bright and colourful paintings influenced by the ‘romantic realism’ of Arkhip Kuindzhi and French Impressionism. Born in Stavropol in 1876, Gorbatov studied in Samara and Riga before entering the Imperial Academy of Arts in St Petersburg in 1904. He was famous for his masterfully executed views of Russian northern cities, Italy, Greece and Palestine, becoming one the most popular, best-selling and sought-after Russian artists abroad, after he left his homeland for Italy and later Berlin, where he eventually settled.
Jerusalem is a superlative example of Gorbatov’s émigré period, which started when he moved abroad in 1922 and lasted until his death in 1945. Searching for new impressions and sources of inspiration, the already established and financially successful artist travelled to Palestine via Greece in 1934-1935. This trip had a profound influence on Gorbatov, which he documented in detail in his diaries. Influenced by the local landscape, in Jerusalem Gorbatov reflects on the common theme of his oeuvre – the idyllic and serene unity of city and nature. Working in his recognisable ornamental style, Gorbatov creates a harmonious composition, which bears the freshness and crispness typical of sketches made from nature. His impressionistic palette of bright blues and whites and rich browns and yellows, together with his large open brushstrokes, creates a vision of vibrating air and light on a hot day. Combining the real and the ideal, in Jerusalem Gorbatov meditates on one of the most important ideas of his creative output – art being a celebration of colour, light, nature and life.