Alexander Yelagin

Russian born, Yelagin spent his formative years among the great East Siberian forests. His solemn landscapes, are painted entirely from memories of his childhood. Yelagin has earned worldwide recognition. He paints in egg tempera, a demanding & forgotten medium which first gained recognition during the early Renaissance. Stylistically, he shares a kinship with American master, Andrew Wyeth. Like Wyeth, Yelagin’s landscapes have a lonely quality but always project “a light at the end of the tunnel”. Through his mastery of light & color, his imagery depicts a hopeful & peaceful world. Yelagin’s work mystifies us, drawing us into his imagination & memory, compelling us to live the scene through his eyes. Open doors & windows, look out upon sun soaked vistas & distant horizons. With an austere, yet delicate palette, he depicts the peace & subtlety of his subject. Delicately placed colors play off the harsh setting. Fresh flowers indicate the recent presence of man in the solitude & tragic beauty of rural country.