Iosif Evstafievich Krachkovsky was a Russian landscape painter. In his artworks, he combined the features of academic painting with realism.

After graduating from the Academy of Arts in 1879, he was sent abroad to further develop his skills. Upon his return to Russia in 1884 at the age of 30, he was awarded the title of full academician of painting.

His first solo exhibition was held in St. Petersburg in 1902, bringing him fame among both European and Russian collectors. His clients included members of the imperial family, and in 1908 and 1909 his works were presented at solo exhibitions in France.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Becker, a relative and student of Krachkovsky, described the artist as follows,

A small canvas from the Rybinsk Museum is in many ways indicative of the artist’s style. The inscription on the reverse of the canvas in the center provides information about the circumstances surrounding the creation of the landscape. The artist left a message in blue paint that reads, “Dedicated to dear N.I. Durdin in good memory, from Iosif Krachkovsky, 1905.” This suggests that the painting was presented as a gift by the artist to Nikolai Ivanovich Durdin, son of the Rybinsk merchant Ivan Durdin, who originally kept the canvas in his collection.

The color palette of the painting is characterized by soft and somewhat subdued tones. The artist has captured the softness of the haze that envelops the water. He paints nature with thick and dense brush strokes, and in some areas, the layers of paint look almost relief, tangible. This technique makes the image even more expressive.