Nasturtium - Konstantin Korovin

An 1888 oil painting by Konstantin Korovin depicting a sunlit garden scene with figures on a wooden veranda. This work captures the play of light on flowers and white clothing.

Konstantin Korovin painted Nasturtium in 1888 during a period when he was exploring the effects of light and air. This work is a significant example of early Russian Impressionism. It depicts a scene at a country house, likely the Abramtsevo estate or a similar dacha. A man leans over a wooden balcony railing while a woman in a white dress stands on the path below. The composition is dominated by the flowering nasturtiums that spill over the terrace and grow along the ground. Korovin used loose, visible brushstrokes to capture the play of sunlight through the trees. The palette consists of warm ochres, greens, and the oranges and reds of the flowers. The white of the woman's dress acts as a bright spot that catches the direct light. This painting demonstrates Korovin's interest in the plein air technique, where the artist works outdoors to record immediate visual impressions. The figures are integrated into the environment rather than being the sole focus. Their presence adds a narrative element to the scene, suggesting a quiet moment of conversation in a garden. The wooden architecture of the veranda provides a geometric structure that contrasts with the organic forms of the climbing plants and foliage. This work reflects the shift in Russian art towards a more atmospheric and painterly style at the end of the nineteenth century.