The Twilight

1900s, Painting, Oil, Canvas , Art Nouveau

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The Twilight by Wilhelm Kotarbinsky is part of the collection of the Nykanor Onatskyi Regional Art Museum in Sumy.

The Twilight by Wilhelm Kotarbinsky

According to Olga Plokhuta, Head of the Department of Scientific and Fund Work at the Nykanor Onatskyi Regional Art Museum in Sumy, the painting "The Twilight" embodies a mystical character.

In the painting, the motif of twilight is intentionally chosen, creating a sense of something temporary, transitional, and unusual; the dark sky evokes unease. There is something "Vrubel-like" in the pale face of the young woman, in her large, sorrowful eyes, and in her figure, which exudes a sense of despair and helplessness.

The Twilight’s Art Style: Exploring Art Nouveau

The artwork is a striking example of Art Nouveau. The artist's primary technique involved the use of oil on canvas. The sizes of the work are 62.5cm x 124.5cm. The Twilight’s history traces back to the 1900s.

The painting depicts a young woman seated on an outdoor stone bench, set against a dreamy and serene evening backdrop. She is dressed in an elegant, light-yellow gown with intricate details, paired with a dark shawl or drapery over her lower body. Her posture is relaxed, with one arm resting on the bench and the other propping up her head in a contemplative manner.

The background features classical architectural elements, such as a tall stone column, and lush vegetation, including flowering plants. The sky in the distance is soft and dusky, suggesting twilight or early evening, with a faint star visible above. The artist used soft, muted colors and delicate brushwork, emphasizing a harmonious blend of the subject and her surroundings.

Unique Features. Emotions and Mood of The Twilight

Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi was always fascinated by phenomena on the borderline between reality and fantasy, as though born from dreams, materializing out of moonlight or mist. Mist, transforming into a poetic image or a terrifying spectacle, is one of the artist’s favorite themes.

In the 1890s, angels, vampires, and spirits of nature and death began to appear in his paintings. The artist was captivated by fantastic scenes and mystical visions. The figures illuminated in his works resemble dreams, visions that appear to the artist as if he is daydreaming, exuding elegance, delicacy, and a profound melancholy.

The mood of The Twilight is both introspective and romantic, evoking a sense of nostalgia and quiet elegance.

Explore more works by Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi

Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi was a prominent representative of academicism and symbolism in painting. He created a lot of works, including “Overmourned (At the Grave)” (1900s), “The Tornado (Angel with a Raised Sword)” (1900s), “The Battle in the Air (Demon and Tamara)” (1900s), “The Slaves (The Scene from the Life in Rome)” (1890s), and many more. Immerse yourself into The Twilight’s meaning, explore more works by the artist, and purchase these masterpieces on the UFDA website.

Digital original details

Format
Digital Original Standard
Resolution
400 MPX
Color depth
48 bit 281 Trillion Colors
Original file size
1396 MB DNG File

Physical original details

Country
Ukraine - Sumy
Years
1900s
- Styles
  - Art Nouveau
- Medium
Physical canvas
62.5cm x 124.5cm
Framing
No framed

Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi

Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi was an artist who worked in the fields of monumental, monumental-decorative, and easel painting. He was a prominent representative of academicism and symbolism in painting.

Summary of Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi

The artist is well-known for his contributions, particularly his work on the murals of St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv from 1886 to 1896. Kotarbinskyi’s art also includes the decoration of numerous palaces, many of which now house prominent Ukrainian museums.

Biography of Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi

The artist was born in 1848 in Nieborów (now in Poland). From an early age, he recognized his destiny, ultimately becoming an unparalleled master of his unique and vibrant style. After finishing high school in Warsaw, he studied at the Warsaw Drawing Classes from 1866 to 1869. Although he enrolled at the University of Warsaw, he did not complete his studies there.

In 1871, he entered the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, where he studied under Francesco Podesti and graduated in 1875 with a gold medal.

In 1885, Professor Adrian Prakhov, who was overseeing the interior decoration of St. Volodymyr's Cathedral, invited Kotarbinskyi to join the cathedral's mural project. From 1886 to 1896, he worked on these murals. Along with Pavlo Svedomskyi, he completed 18 large paintings and 84 individual figures.

After completing the cathedral murals, he continued to work in the field of monumental painting. The artist also took commissions from wealthy Moscow patrons and created religious images for churches in Belarus. In 1890, he became a member of the Southern Russian Artists' Union and was actively involved in Kyiv's cultural life.

The artist spent his last years in Kyiv and passed away in 1921. After his death, Kotarbinskyi’s paintings are held in various institutions, including the Nykanor Onatskyi Regional Art Museum in Sumy.

Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi’s Famous Paintings: Exploring Iconic Masterpieces

The foundation of the artwork of Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi often lies in mythological, historical, and religious (biblical) themes. Many of his paintings feature a mystical essence and fantastical elements. His subjects frequently include nymphs, mermaids, angels descended to earth, or strikingly beautiful women with languid gazes and noble postures. His vivid imagination envelops these figures in enchanting, dreamlike landscapes.

Among his famous works are “The Grave of a Suicide Victim” (1901), “The Tornado (Angel with a Raised Sword)” (1900s), “The Battle in the Air (Demon and Tamara)” (1900s), “The Twilight” (1900s), and many more. Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi’s paintings for sale are available at auction on the UFDA website.

Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi’s Art Style

Kotarbinskyi created numerous philosophical and fantastical canvases, masterfully blending elements of Art Nouveau, Symbolism, and his distinctive personal style. During World War I, he transformed some of his paintings into postcards, which were sold to support soldiers' families. He also designed posters encouraging donations to aid victims of the Polish occupation. Unfortunately, many of Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi’s original paintings have been lost or destroyed, surviving only as postcards.

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