Arkhip Kuindzhi

Arkhip Kuindzhi (1842-1910) was a Russian painter who is renowned for his landscapes. Born in Mariupol, Ukraine, he grew up in poverty and began his artistic training as a sign painter before enrolling at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts. Kuindzhi’s work was influenced by the beauty and vastness of the Russian landscape and he often painted at night, capturing the play of light and shadow in his landscapes. He was a member of the Peredvizhniki group, which aimed to take art out of the academic salons and make it accessible to the wider public. Kuindzhi’s paintings were well-received and he was awarded many honors during his lifetime. Today, his works are held in major museums and collections across Russia and around the world.