The artist is Kuindzhi
Kuindzhi is among the prominent Russian artists who participated in the formation of the national school of landscape painting of the second half of the 19th – 20th century and represents its romantic line. During his creative life of large picturesque paintings, the master created a little – a little more than two dozen. However, they all became an important phenomenon in the art world of Russia and gave rise to many imitations. The artist preferred the elevated interpretation of nature, showing its states and phenomena in the most spectacular moments, as in the picture "Birch Grove". The usual corner of the forest is depicted, solar glare is reflected through the crowns of trees on the grass, giving the landscape major joyful sound.
The picture of the same name is 1879 in the GTG. In the picture, Kuindzhi admits a certain convention and theatricalization, at the same time achieved with amazing illusory in the transfer of space, sunlight and the relief of the trunks. Sketches of the picture belonging to the Russian Museum help to understand the creative method of Kuindzhi, to see in which direction work was going on on the work. Irina Shuvalova. Kuindzhi in the Russian Museum // Arkhip Kuindzhi. SPb, 2010. With.12.