Fairy tales, the sub-genre of folktales, occupied a special place among Yefim Chestnyakov’s literary works. Perhaps, the writer’s most famous tale is ‘A giving apple’. The painting with the same name is displayed at the exhibition. The story about the magic apple clearly focuses on the idea of teamwork, which can help bring about universal prosperity. A peasant family was able to transport the enormous apple from the forest to the village only after they started working together. ‘Once it was brought home, the entire village came running… The fruit was eaten with cheese and biscuits, put in kissel and frozen when the cold arrived. The neighbors always got some of the apple, and so did anyone who fell ill. There was enough of the magic fruit for autumn, winter, all the way until Easter.’

The artist’s painting depicts the culmination of all the effort when the entire peasant family, having strapped on the harness attached to an ondrets (a two-wheeled cart for removing hay), is transporting the giant apple. The painting’s color scheme of cold, emerald-blue hues is akin to the glow of the moon on a summer night and helps convey the feeling of mystery, otherworldliness and mystique. Residents of the village of Shablovo recalled the time during their childhood when Yefim Chestnyakov showed them the painting ‘A giving apple’, and told them the amazing tale about an elderly man who had found a huge apple in a forest and wanted to bring it to the village but was unable to at first. The black grouse and owl sitting in a tree, portrayed as prophetic birds, told him that the cart could only be moved from its place if one and all joined in the effort. Yefim Chestnyakov’s painting depicts absolutely everyone, the young and the old, pulling the cart along the path.

The fairy tale ends with the following words “Once the apple was brought home, the entire village came running. People asked “Who gave it to you? ” and the old man replied “God did”. They tried it. It was sweet, fragrant and soft. The old man shared it with everyone. The whole village ate their fill and showed their appreciation.’ Children listened to the tale and examined the remarkable painting. Everything in it seemed familiar, reminiscent of home, i.e. the forest with its huge trees and silver moss; the owl and the black grouse that they had seen before, and the people who resembled locals. The children wondered why the apple was big enough for everyone to have their share. In their hearts, they knew that Yefim Chestnyakov wanted to tell them something extremely important. ‘Do not be greedy, share what you have with others, and you will have your fill’. There is an inherent moral to the tale, just as in many other works of art by Yefim Chestnyakov. A miracle occurred after all the people joined in the effort to bring the apple to the village and then ate it all together. Life in a village depended on work performed collectively. Together, peasants sowed seeds and then harvested the crops. Holidays were also celebrated together. Hence, in Yefim Chestnyakov’s art works, we often come across members of a community with a shared identity and moral principles, rooted in Orthodox Christian beliefs.