The concept of the painting “Eve with a Pomegranate” is multidimensional and diverse. The very image of Eve includes the philosophy of life. Eve does not have the traditional apple in her hand — she holds a pomegranate, an ancient symbol of abundance and fertility.
The painting contains symbols of immortality, eternal flowering and ongoing life — there are bunches of grapes, ivy vines, ripe fruits and lush fig leaves. Eve appears in her mature beauty against the background of the eternally green Garden of Eden, under the Tree of Life. She is naked and at the same time as if wrapped by nature, the curves of her body are soft and natural. The painter is faithful to the ideals of symbolism.
Ivan Petrovich Köler-Wiliandi, or Johann Köler, was the founder of Estonian painting. He was a portrait and landscape painter, also known for his religious images and paintings on biblical themes. Johann Köler was the seventh child in the family. He studied painting since childhood and moved to Saint Petersburg at the age of 20. Before entering the Imperial Academy of Arts, he had a part time job as a designer of signboards and shop windows. While studying at the Academy, Köler received five Gold and Silver medals for his excellent work, two of these paintings were called “Hercules Removes Cerberus from the Underworld” and “The Witch of Endor Summons the Spirit of Samuel.” Later Johann Köler was awarded the academician title for his work “Crucifixion” and the title of the professor of history and portrait painting for his portrait of Chancellor Alexander Gorchakov.
For twelve years, Köler taught drawing to the daughter of Emperor Alexander II, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. During that period, the artist painted many portraits of the officials and members of the royal family. Johann Köler often traveled around Europe, lived and worked in Paris, Florence, Nice, so the nature in his landscapes was so picturesque, and the scenes from simple life were colorful and diverse. The artist adhered to the principle of “art for art’s sake” and sought to feature excessive splendor and sweet-scented beauty. This is also true for the painting “Eve with a Pomegranate” that entered the Ulyanovsk Art Museum from the private collection of Dmitry Fedorovich Yermolov.
The painting contains symbols of immortality, eternal flowering and ongoing life — there are bunches of grapes, ivy vines, ripe fruits and lush fig leaves. Eve appears in her mature beauty against the background of the eternally green Garden of Eden, under the Tree of Life. She is naked and at the same time as if wrapped by nature, the curves of her body are soft and natural. The painter is faithful to the ideals of symbolism.
Ivan Petrovich Köler-Wiliandi, or Johann Köler, was the founder of Estonian painting. He was a portrait and landscape painter, also known for his religious images and paintings on biblical themes. Johann Köler was the seventh child in the family. He studied painting since childhood and moved to Saint Petersburg at the age of 20. Before entering the Imperial Academy of Arts, he had a part time job as a designer of signboards and shop windows. While studying at the Academy, Köler received five Gold and Silver medals for his excellent work, two of these paintings were called “Hercules Removes Cerberus from the Underworld” and “The Witch of Endor Summons the Spirit of Samuel.” Later Johann Köler was awarded the academician title for his work “Crucifixion” and the title of the professor of history and portrait painting for his portrait of Chancellor Alexander Gorchakov.
For twelve years, Köler taught drawing to the daughter of Emperor Alexander II, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. During that period, the artist painted many portraits of the officials and members of the royal family. Johann Köler often traveled around Europe, lived and worked in Paris, Florence, Nice, so the nature in his landscapes was so picturesque, and the scenes from simple life were colorful and diverse. The artist adhered to the principle of “art for art’s sake” and sought to feature excessive splendor and sweet-scented beauty. This is also true for the painting “Eve with a Pomegranate” that entered the Ulyanovsk Art Museum from the private collection of Dmitry Fedorovich Yermolov.
