"The Anglers" portrays fishermen upon the lake by the village of Spasskoe in Nizhny Novgorod, which is a part of the Russian countryside. However, on closer observation, the painting is much more than just another view of the landscape. The artist's background makes this work of art much more interesting. This painting was made by Grigory Sorokov, a serf; who was essentially a bonded labourer to the owner of the land. He was a student of the well known artist Alexey Venetsianov, who lobbied for Sorokov's freedom seeing his potential as an artist. There are only around 20 known works of this artist and all of them are undated. Hence, this work was painted in the later half of the 1840s. This view of the lake Spasskoe makes it seem still and serene. The artist has created depth through reflections in the water and the tiny faraway village across the lake. His mastery of light and shadow is showcased through the way the light changes the reflections in the water and how the shadows of trees fall on the ground around the fisherman on land and how his shadow interacts with the ground. The colours are cool tones that stick close to reality, making the painting look photorealistic. Another way of looking at this artwork, is the way the artist has created the early morning atmosphere to look still and silent in order to convey the silence of the serfs. His paintings may have been his only source of expression and this could perhaps explain the simplicity and rustic theme of the Fishermen. The fishermen did not work on the land unlike the farmers and other labourers who were bound to serfdom. Thus, to the serf, the anglers were free; this piece captures that serenity and freedom of the fishermen of Spasskoe and translated it into a beautiful, bittersweet masterpiece in oil paint.
Grigory Sorokov’s The Anglers depicts fishermen beside Lake Spasskoe in the Russian countryside. As a former serf and student of Alexey Venetsianov, Sorokov’s background adds meaning to the scene. The tranquil lake, cool colours, reflections, soft light, and distant village create serenity. The fishermen’s apparent freedom contrasts poignantly with the artist’s own restricted life.
