It is difficult to estimate the time it takes for a master like Repin to paint oil paintings. The actual painting time is generally not long, but various early observations, picture conception, and the writer's own thinking take up a particularly long time.
It is said that "Trackers on the Volga" took three years to create, which does not mean that this is the only painting he painted in these three years.
Although the actual time spent on painting may only be a few dozen hours, during this period Repin had many communications with the trackers on the Volga River.
This is a relatively complex large-scale painting. In addition, Repin is also very good at portraits and painted quite a lot.
If the background is not complicated and you are just painting a portrait, two or three hours is enough. Repin is a very diligent painter, and he has many paintings handed down from generation to generation.
But it is true that Repin had never painted Oriental people very much. He observed them carefully for a long time before he started painting. Li Yu and Lu Bicheng had never been models. Li Yu stood there motionless, very stiff; Lu Bicheng sat in front of him on a chair, and did not dare to blink.
Repin smiled and said: "Don't be so cramped, the more natural the better." Li Yu said: "I feel very natural." Repin said: "Well, don't think that I am painting, just think about the problems in your heart. "So Li Yu tried to calculate the problem in his mind, and his expression gradually relaxed.
Almost two hours later, Repin finally said: "It's done." Li Yu quickly went over to take a look. This is a rare item. There are not many Chinese portraits painted with oil paintings at present, not to mention that they were painted by Repin.
Li Yu was full of praise: "He is indeed a master." Repin was not satisfied: "It's just a hasty work. I don't know much about Chinese culture. If I have the opportunity to go to China to learn more about it, I can truly draw Chinese people." The charm.”
"Welcome!" Li Yu said,
"Although I don't understand art, there are many excellent paintings in China. I think you will be interested." Repin said: "I heard that I really want to know about the unique art form of Chinese brush painting." Li Yu Said: "I still have two masterpieces of Chinese paintings in my hand. If you come to the capital sometime, I will let you take a good look." The "Six Dragons" and "Horse Washing" in Li Yu's hands are both rare masterpieces. A very valuable Song Dynasty painting.
Although the domestic technological level was very poor at the beginning of the 20th century, in terms of art, it has always been top-notch. It's just that art is now often linked to national strength. Whoever's voice has more weight will seem to be superior to others' art.
Fortunately, a pure painter like Repin pursues art itself. The unique artistic beauty of Chinese painting is very, very superb. Even if he cannot learn to paint with a brush, he will not be disappointed.
Repin handed the newly painted oil painting to Li Yu.
"This painting is given to you." Li Yu said: "For such a precious thing, how can I thank you?" Repin smiled and said: "You're welcome, it's my honor to paint for a scientific giant like you. , if you can be more dazzling in the future, it will be the biggest reward. In the future, when I have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, I will draw another one for you. When the time comes to compare the two, I also want to know the difference." Li Yu He attaches great importance to this oil painting. Although it is a little hasty and cannot be compared with the two Song paintings awarded by the imperial court in terms of art and value, at least it was specially painted and presented to him by the famous Repin. It is also his first painting of oriental figures. Portraits are priceless to oneself.
It was the first time Lu Bicheng saw this kind of art work in the form of oil painting, and he was very interested: "It's even more beautiful than photos." There's nothing wrong with saying that, because the photos at this time were all black and white, without color, and they were far more vivid in terms of brightness. Not as good as a hand-painted portrait.
And this thing is indeed very luxurious. Let alone a famous person like Repin, it is not cheap for ordinary painters to paint a portrait.
Li Yu said with a smile: "Keep it well later, it will be valuable in the future." Lu Bicheng obviously did not know much about the value of oil paintings: "Very valuable?" Li Yu said, "Of course, Repin is currently the best painter in Europe. . Its status in art is equivalent to Tolstoy's status in the literary world." Lu Bicheng understood, but when he saw the two of them standing back and forth in the painting, he said, "Don't let others see this painting." Li Yu He wondered: "Why?" Lu Bicheng said: "It's just a secret!" The two of them went to the street again, bought a collection of Tolstoy's works, and then came to Tolstoy for his autograph the next day.
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts, Li Yu saw Tolstoy talking to a middle-aged man who was taller than him.
Li Yu recognized it at a glance. Well, it turned out to be Gorky. Lu Bicheng didn't know who Gorky was, so he hurriedly went to find Tolstoy for his autograph.
Tolstoy also saw them and said hello: "You guys are here quite early." Lu Bicheng took out a set of books he bought yesterday, and Tolstoy smiled and said: "You really bought them all." The book is signed.
Gorky observed for a while and asked: "Are you... from China?" It seems that there is someone who does not regard himself as a little devil, but Li Yu was very curious and asked: "How did you tell, Mr. Gorky?" Gorky was surprised and asked: "Do you know me?" Li Yu said with a smile: "Not only do I know you, I also know the phrase 'Let the storm come more violently'!" This line comes from Gorky's famous poem "Haiyan", I'm afraid all Chinese people know it.
If we talk about popularity alone, Gorky's status in the country will probably be higher than that of Tuowen, Tuowen and others.
Although it is not ruled out that it contains political factors, Gorky’s own ideological and artistic qualities in literature cannot be underestimated.
Mao Dun said around 1946: "Gorky's great influence on the Chinese literary world can be understood by just citing one thing. There are a large number of foreign writers' works translated into Chinese, and there are often two or three translations of one book. No one has surpassed Gorky." People with high vision like Lu Xun also spoke highly of him.
Gorky was once again surprised and said: "It's incredible to me that you can still memorize my works! As for why I can tell that you are Chinese, it's because I have met many Japanese people who don't feel the same as you, so even if you are Without braids, I also know that you are not Japanese." Tolstoy said: "If you know his name, it will be even more incredible. He is Li Yu, the scientific giant who rose from the poor and weak Qing Dynasty."
"Oh!?" Gorky couldn't help but look at Li Yu again.
"We met here! I also want to meet you when I go to the United States next year or the year after that. I really want to know how a Qing scientist managed to impress the European scientific community." In two years, Lenin will send him to the United States. Carry out revolutionary activities.
Li Yu said: "Science and art are somewhat different. Art is greatly affected by the cultural environment, but science is an epic hidden in nature and will not be affected by different human wills." Gorky said: "Say It makes sense, your views on science are real and I admire them." Tolstoy then said to Gorky: "I have already read the book "At the Bottom" you wrote. If you write like this, I am afraid the Tsarist government will arrest you." Gorky has participated in many demonstrations, but his reputation is currently not as good as Tolstoy. The tsarist government did not dare to arrest Tolstoy, but it dared to arrest Gorky. He has been imprisoned twice.
Gorky was nonchalant: "Resistance is necessary, otherwise how can we fight for it. The situation in the Far East is so chaotic. Once there is a problem, the lives of the people at the bottom will be even more difficult." Tolstoy asked: "Do you also think we will have a war with the Japanese? "Gorky paid more attention to the world situation than Toon: "It is inevitable, but with such behavior, I would not be surprised even if the Qing Dynasty participated in the fight against the Tsar's army." It is a pity that the Qing Dynasty did not dare to participate.
Tolstoy has also always been opposed to the Russo-Japanese War: "It is really disrespectful to go to the Far East when you can't handle things in the west." Not only later generations, but also the population of the western European part of Russia currently accounts for a larger proportion.
But they didn't expect the Japanese to win. Gorky said: "Toon, you don't need to worry too much about me, and there is no need to resign to the Literature Department of the Academy of Sciences again. I am really sorry for this." After Gorky was arrested, Tolstoy, Chekhov and others went to the Literature Department of the Academy of Sciences to resign. Honorary academicians protested.
Tolstoy said: "I don't care about the Nobel Prize in Literature, so what can an honorary academician do? By the way, do you have any news about Chekhov? How is his condition?" Gorky said: "He is now taking refuge in Nice, France. Recuperate, this disease is real, hey!" Chekhov suffered from tuberculosis, also known as consumption, which is currently an incurable disease.
After he unfortunately contracted tuberculosis ten years ago while caring for patients, he lived in Nice, a city in southern France on the Mediterranean coast, for a long time.
In the meantime, he briefly returned to Yalta, Crimea, but soon returned to Nice. Tolstoy said: "I saw him in Yalta three years ago. His complexion seems to have improved a little. I hope he can persist." Gorky suddenly remembered and said to Li Yu: "You are the top scientist in the world today. , is it possible to cure Mr. Chekhov's tuberculosis?" Li Yu knew that this thing requires antibiotics, and more powerful antibiotics such as streptomycin. Even if penicillin comes out, it will have no effect on tuberculosis. .
Li Yu said regretfully: "I'm sorry, I don't know much about the medical field and there's really nothing I can do." Gorky said: "You don't need to apologize. I'm just asking if there is a trial treatment." Li Yu said: "Human experiments involve very contradictory ethics. Even if there are preliminary results, it is difficult to implement them quickly." Tolstoy was older and said: "There is nothing wrong with being cautious. Chekhov is not very old. I don't think so." I think he will have problems." Gorky sighed: "I hope so."
