Water Lilies (Nymphaeas) D.A. Lishchenko, 1925

The painting "Water Lilies (Nymphaeas)" by D.A. Lishchenko, created in 1925, is a refined and poetic reflection of nature's harmony. The composition unfolds on the calm surface of a pond, where in the sunlight, pure white water lily buds bloom, surrounded by large emerald-green leaves. The artist masterfully conveys the shimmering shades of blue and turquoise of the water's surface, softly reflecting the sky. The textured, impasto technique creates a tangible feel to the petals and foliage, enhancing the sense of presence. The painting is set in a massive gilded frame with rich stucco ornamentation, emphasizing the work's classical aesthetics. In the lower left corner the author's signature "Lishchenko D.A.", and in the lower right the number "25", indicating the year of creation. Dimensions: 22 x 29 cm (without frame); framed: height 49 cm, width 55 cm. Material: Oil on cardboard. Condition: The work is in good collector's condition, with no paint loss, the frame is intact, with a light patina of age. Provenance: Private collection.

D.A. Lishchenko was a representative of the Russian painting school of the first half of the 20th century, whose work continued the traditions of Russian landscape painting of the late 19th - early 20th century, tracing back to the aesthetics of Isaac Levitan, Alexei Savrasov, and late Russian Impressionists. The 1920s in Soviet Russia were a period when landscape, despite social and ideological shifts, retained its position as an independent genre, expressing lyricism and contemplative moods.The motif of water lilies, well known in European and Russian painting, symbolized harmony, purity, and natural renewal. In Russian artistic tradition, it is closely associated with quiet forest lakes, village ponds, and secluded corners of nature. Unlike Western European interpretations the most famous being Claude Monet's Water Lilies in Russian works of the 1920s, emphasis was placed on the material tangibility of forms and rich color combinations, reflecting the peculiarities of northern light and seasonal palette.In Lishchenko's work, one feels the synthesis of the academic school with the freedom of Impressionist brushwork. The artist subtly uses water reflections, the contrast of white flowers and deep blue of the pond, creating an image of peaceful solitude and meditative calm. Today, such works are valued by collectors as rare examples of post-revolutionary landscape painting that preserved continuity with pre-revolutionary traditions.