Description of the painting by Alexander Benois “Cemetery”

Description of the painting by Alexander Benois Cemetery

Many works by Benoit are distinguished by gloom, dullness, anxiety. This distinctive feature of the artist has always distinguished him from both modern and classical artists. His works are imbued with darkness and reflections, like paper with ink. Artist Benoit in his youth especially attracted and fascinated the mysterious, shrouded in gloomy mysticism, scenes and motifs, which madly liked the idol of a young artist – Arnold Beklin.

It was during this dark period that the talented schedule began its work on the world famous gloomy creations “Castle”, “Cemetery” and “Evening in Basel”. In his work, Benoit decided to portray an old autumn monastery cemetery, reflecting sadness and pessimistic tendencies in the mood of the young artist Benoit.

The old empty and cold cemetery was a symbol of darkness and mystery. However, his modern work was completely combined with the demands of the local public during the period of the end of the century. The author conveys his sad mood and mood with the help of a gloomy and elegant color of the picture. The whole picture is divided into various shades and variants of gray and black colors. The color range extends from silver and light ash shades to dark gray, steel and almost black. Even it would seem that a white, bright sky, made in the form of a background, is still shrouded in a haze of gray cemetery fog, the foremost sensations of dampness and rain.

Benoit pays special attention to tree detailing. Clearly drawn pillars of thin dark birch trees, in harmony with the image on the gravestone. Blurred ground with fuzzy contours creates a feeling of moisture, as if a little rain was just falling from the sky. The picture quite actually combines a dark mood, corresponding colors and composition.


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Description of the painting by Alexander Benois “Cemetery”