Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Haystacks

Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev

Name Class Date
Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev, Haystacks. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev topimpressionists.com/en/artists/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev/
Artist’s dates
1886 – 1939
Movement
Post-Impressionism Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev died in 1939; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2009.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 20, 2026

Haystacks — Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Haystacks — Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1880
  2. 1890
  3. 1900
  4. 1910
  5. 1920
  6. 1930

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 53 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev (1886–1939) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

  • Wonderful Soup topimpressionists.com/en/art/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-wonderful-soup-9FTFYY-en/
  • Fair In Brittany topimpressionists.com/en/art/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-fair-in-brittany-9FTFQY-en/
  • Still-life With Flowers topimpressionists.com/en/art/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-still-life-with-flowers-9FTFWG-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-haystacks-9FTFRQ-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Driftwood #d5af5d

    Catalogued palette

    • #D5AF5D
    • #B3CFDB
    • #7C6126
    • #AE863B

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Driftwood
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev over the last twelve months — 11 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 75.4%
    2. 2 Hong Kong 7.0%
    3. 3 United States of America 3.5%
    4. 4 United Arab Emirates 1.8%
    5. 5 Argentina 1.8%
    6. 6 Denmark 1.8%
    7. 7 Finland 1.8%
    8. 8 Croatia 1.8%
    9. 9 Italy 1.8%
    10. 10 Japan 1.8%
    11. · 1 other countries 1.5%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev

    1. 1 The Artist's Studio In The Crimea 3.4%
    2. 2 The Gardener 3.4%
    3. 3 Paris 3.4%
    4. 4 A Street In A Provincial French Town 3.4%
    5. 5 Passers-by 3.4%
    6. 6 Corner Of The Garden 3.4%
    7. 7 Erotic Drawings 3.4%
    8. 8 Promenade 3.4%
    9. 9 The Children 3.4%
    10. 10 Petropolis 3.4%
    11. 11 Garden At Villa Borisella 1.7%
    12. 12 Woman Reading, 1922 1.7%
    13. 13 Portrait Of Singer Fedor Shaliapin 1.7%
    14. 14 The Street Musician 1.7%
    15. 15 Portrait Of The Artist's Son Kirill 1.7%
    16. 16 Nature Morte Au Pichet Et Aux Fruits 1.7%
    17. 17 Haystacks this painting 1.7%
    18. 18 The Novice 1.7%
    19. 19 Nudes In Hammocks 1.7%
    20. 20 The Funeral 1.7%

    Together these works take 51.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 293 works by this artist, of which 48 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 17 of them, with 1.7% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 20, 2026

    Haystacks — Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev

    Born in Moscow, Russia

    Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev: A Life in Russian Art

    Early Life and Education

    Born: July 11, 1886, in Rybinsk, Russia.

    His mother, Klara von Lindenberg, was of Swedish descent, influencing his artistic sensibilities.

    Grigoriev’s early life was marked by being born out of wedlock, a theme that would later subtly appear in his work.

    He studied at the Stroganov Art School from 1903 to 1907 under Dmitri Shcherbinovsky.

    Furthered his education at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, solidifying his artistic foundation.

    Artistic Development and Influences

    Grigoriev’s style evolved through various phases, beginning with Impressionism before embracing avant-garde techniques.

    In 1909, he joined the “Studio of Impressionists,” demonstrating his initial leanings towards this movement.

    Became a member of the influential World of Art (Mir Iskusstva) movement in 1913, connecting him with leading Russian artists and intellectuals.

    Influences: While specific influences are debated, his work shows an affinity for European Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, alongside a distinctly Russian sensibility.

    Key Works and Themes

    “Rasseïa” (1918): A pivotal album showcasing Grigoriev’s attempt to understand the essence of the Russian people as a natural phenomenon.

    Portraits: Notable portraits include those of Vsevolod Meyerhold, Maxim Gorky, and Sergei Rachmaninov, capturing their personalities with depth and sensitivity.

    “Faces of Russia” & “Faces of the World” series: These collections demonstrate his interest in portraying diverse individuals and cultures.

    Major Paintings: Sunflowers (1917-1919), Village (1918), and Peasants in the Field (1920) exemplify his vibrant color palette and rhythmic compositions.

    Themes: Grigoriev frequently explored themes of national identity, social observation, and psychological depth within his work.

    Historical Significance and Legacy

    Grigoriev played a significant role in the Russian avant-garde movement, contributing to its innovative spirit.

    His work reflects the turbulent social and political climate of early 20th-century Russia.

    Though not as widely recognized internationally as some contemporaries, his contributions to Russian art are increasingly appreciated.

    His paintings can be found in museums such as the Taganrog Art Museum, preserving his legacy for future generations.

    Died: 1939. His untimely death cut short a promising career, but his artistic vision continues to inspire.

    Artistic Style and Characteristics

    Grigoriev’s style is characterized by its emotional intensity and expressive use of color.

    He employed rhythmic structures and dynamic compositions to convey a sense of movement and energy.

    His portraits are notable for their psychological insight and ability to capture the inner lives of his subjects.

    Overall: Grigoriev’s work represents a unique blend of Impressionistic techniques, avant-garde experimentation, and distinctly Russian themes.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Haystacks

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-haystacks-9FTFRQ-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Grigoriev, Boris Dmitrievich. Haystacks. n.d., https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-haystacks-9FTFRQ-en/
    APA
    Grigoriev, Boris Dmitrievich (n.d.). Haystacks [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-haystacks-9FTFRQ-en/
    Chicago
    Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev. Haystacks. n.d. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-haystacks-9FTFRQ-en/
    Harvard
    Grigoriev, Boris Dmitrievich (n.d.) Haystacks. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/boris-dmitrievich-grigoriev-haystacks-9FTFRQ-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 20, 2026

    Haystacks — Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Haystacks — Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: rural russia, haystacks, harvest season. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Wonderful Soup, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Sept. 20, 2026

    Haystacks — Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    In which movement and which era is "Haystacks" by Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev placed?

    In "Haystacks" by Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev, the Post-Impressionism movement meets the Modern era.

    Can I order an oil reproduction of "Haystacks"?

    You can order a hand-painted reproduction of "Haystacks" by Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev directly on its Hand-Painted Reproduction page: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, made to order.

    Who is the author of "Haystacks", and in which movement?

    Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev created "Haystacks" within the Post-Impressionism movement.