One of the themes that Yefim Chestnyakov returned to time and time again in his literary and art works is tied to gatherings, which are called ‘besedki’ in Kologriv dialect. Among inhabitants of Kologrivskiy Uyezd ‘besedki’ referred to gatherings of young people on autumn and winter evenings in a peasant hut so that they could have fun dancing, playing games, singing and also working (an essential activity). As a rule, young women spun yarn, embroidered and knit while the men made and mended bast shoes. There were different gatherings for various age groups: the small besedka — for children aged 9-11; the intermediate — for 12 to 14 year-olds, and the big one for those 16 and older. These festive occasions gave young peasants one of few opportunities to enjoy themselves. After all, from early spring to late autumn, these youngsters, together with adults, were busy with hard peasant work.
In this study of the painting ‘Gatherings’, Yefim Chestnyakov depicted two peasant girls with their spinning tools at an intermediate ‘besedka’ in a wooden hut. The interior, the subjects and the ambience are very familiar to the artist. On many occasions, he took part in such gatherings as a boy and then a young man. In his own unique style, Yefim Chestnyakov tried to convey the inner peace and calm felt by the youngsters and their concentration on the work instead of focusing on their typical for peasant children appearance. The fact that the study only includes a few elements from the interior of a peasant hut seemingly illuminated by a rushlight and the warm coloring used allow viewers to immerse themselves in the world of peasant gatherings. It is easy to find an excerpt from Yefim Chestnyakov’s literary works that would complement this painting.
***
It is warm in the wooden hut,
The interior is well-lit and beautiful,
The linen is silky to the touch,
And the light looks golden.
The rushlight has been placed
In its iron holder,
Near it, the lovely maidens
Are talking to each other.
There is reddish ash here,
Young men and women,
Hand-made spinning tools,
Colorful shirts,
The lovely maidens,
Accordions and thread.
The rushlight is burning,
The linen glistens white,
A bed sheet makes a swishing sound,
The bobbin hangs down
Suspended, like a ring.
A young man is playing
The one row accordion,
And singing about love.
The maidens are crooning,
To while away the time
And are still mending bed sheets,
And winding thread.
The yarn is being spun,
The thread is delicate,
And the song is pure gold.
In this study of the painting ‘Gatherings’, Yefim Chestnyakov depicted two peasant girls with their spinning tools at an intermediate ‘besedka’ in a wooden hut. The interior, the subjects and the ambience are very familiar to the artist. On many occasions, he took part in such gatherings as a boy and then a young man. In his own unique style, Yefim Chestnyakov tried to convey the inner peace and calm felt by the youngsters and their concentration on the work instead of focusing on their typical for peasant children appearance. The fact that the study only includes a few elements from the interior of a peasant hut seemingly illuminated by a rushlight and the warm coloring used allow viewers to immerse themselves in the world of peasant gatherings. It is easy to find an excerpt from Yefim Chestnyakov’s literary works that would complement this painting.
***
It is warm in the wooden hut,
The interior is well-lit and beautiful,
The linen is silky to the touch,
And the light looks golden.
The rushlight has been placed
In its iron holder,
Near it, the lovely maidens
Are talking to each other.
There is reddish ash here,
Young men and women,
Hand-made spinning tools,
Colorful shirts,
The lovely maidens,
Accordions and thread.
The rushlight is burning,
The linen glistens white,
A bed sheet makes a swishing sound,
The bobbin hangs down
Suspended, like a ring.
A young man is playing
The one row accordion,
And singing about love.
The maidens are crooning,
To while away the time
And are still mending bed sheets,
And winding thread.
The yarn is being spun,
The thread is delicate,
And the song is pure gold.
