Alexei K. Savrasov · The rooks have returned

1871 – oil on canvas – Tetryakov Gallery, Russia

Savrasov was one of the most important -arguably the most important- of all the 19th century Russian landscape painters, considered the creator of the “lyrical landscape style”. A trully emblematic work, “The rooks have returned” (or “The rooks have come back”) is Savrasov’s most famous painting, a lovely elegy to the spring announced by the return of the rooks.

The canvas shows Savrasov’s love for the rural Russian landscape, very influenced by John Constable. One of Savrasov’s most famous pupils was Isaac Levitan.