The late 19th century gave rise to the “Positivist Age”, a period experienced in both Europe and America in which scientific progress and rational thought was beginning to be widely accepted and trusted. This transformation in political and religious ideals was paralleled in the arts through the rejection of Romanticism because it did not show accuracy of the real, observable world. Konstantin Makovsky’s painting The Russian Bride’s Attire, is a decorative piece that depicts the revival of Russian folklore, but when inspected closely, displays a mixture of styles, expressive lighting, and postures that present a muted criticism of past Russian traditions.
A student at the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts, Konstantin Makovsky was one of fourteen …show more content…
The ceremony ended with the bride’s Matchmaker ritually combing the bride’s long braid…Makovsky, who must have been familiar with traditional Russian wedding customs, focused on the transitional nature of this moment” (Myaskovskaya). The positioning of each woman in the triangle portrays the hierarchy and amount of control they each hold within the wedding transaction. The Matchmaker is the tallest and assumes the larger part of the triangle, while the bride caves into the security and affection of the woman on the floor who can only provide reassurance. Although the painting initially looks like a traditional Russian Renaissance painting, the feelings it expresses through lighting and positioning depict a realistic and depressing contemporary approach to an antiquated tradition. During the period of social change and scientific enlightenment in the late 19th century, European and American artists attempted to and succeeded at creating art that depicted realistic settings and true, contemporary feelings of the era. Makovsky’s The Russian Bride’s Attire is an excellent example due to the manner in which he interlaces neighboring styles into one piece. Through his personal Realistic approach, Impressionism from the west, and a tinge of traditional Russian folklore that is expressed in a candid manner, Makovsky succeeded in presenting truthful art of his
A student at the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts, Konstantin Makovsky was one of fourteen …show more content…
The ceremony ended with the bride’s Matchmaker ritually combing the bride’s long braid…Makovsky, who must have been familiar with traditional Russian wedding customs, focused on the transitional nature of this moment” (Myaskovskaya). The positioning of each woman in the triangle portrays the hierarchy and amount of control they each hold within the wedding transaction. The Matchmaker is the tallest and assumes the larger part of the triangle, while the bride caves into the security and affection of the woman on the floor who can only provide reassurance. Although the painting initially looks like a traditional Russian Renaissance painting, the feelings it expresses through lighting and positioning depict a realistic and depressing contemporary approach to an antiquated tradition. During the period of social change and scientific enlightenment in the late 19th century, European and American artists attempted to and succeeded at creating art that depicted realistic settings and true, contemporary feelings of the era. Makovsky’s The Russian Bride’s Attire is an excellent example due to the manner in which he interlaces neighboring styles into one piece. Through his personal Realistic approach, Impressionism from the west, and a tinge of traditional Russian folklore that is expressed in a candid manner, Makovsky succeeded in presenting truthful art of his