Vladimir School of Landscape Painting

The Vladimir technique of Landscape painting was started in the late 1950's by a group of veterans of "The Great War" in Russia. Inspired by the memories of their home town of Vladimir and the beauty of its landscape, these artists (who were educated at the Vladimir Art School) developed their own distinctive style. In the wake of the devastating war, this group was determined to present a bright and optimistic view, contrary to the strict academic standards dictated to artists within the Soviet system.
The emblematic qualities of Vladimir Landscape painting are the deep jewel tone colors, the thick passionate brush strokes, and the implied reality of the actual scene. Impressionistic in quality and expressionistic in technique, this method evokes a pensive and reflective response to the finished work. The Vladimir Landscape technique also incorporates the use of sawdust added to the paint, further intensifying the impasto of the brush strokes and color palate.
Over the past several years, important examples of impressionist landscape paintings from Vladimir have become increasingly rare and highly collectible. Currently, the Pushkin Gallery is buying and selling works by important members of this Soviet era movement including Vadim Bobrov, Nikolai Mokrov, Nikolai Kournikov, and Alfred Smirnov.