“Stormy Day,” crafted by Isaac Levitan in 1897, stands as a remarkable example of Russian landscape painting within the Realism art movement. Executed using oil on canvas, this artwork is housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork portrays a rural scene under a tumultuous sky that dominates the composition with its dynamic and dramatic cloud formations, hinting at the approach of a storm. The landscape beneath the heavy sky features lush green fields, adorned with wildflowers, that stretch toward the horizon where small, rustic houses are interspersed among trees. The interplay of natural light and shadow, combined with Levitan’s meticulous brushwork, vividly captures the transient atmosphere of an impending storm, making the viewer almost feel the gusts of wind and the changing weather. This painting exemplifies Levitan’s mastery in depicting Russian countryside with a profound sense of mood and natural beauty.