“Bayan (sketch)” is an artwork created by Viktor Vasnetsov in 1880 using oil on canvas. The piece is associated with the Romanticism movement and falls under the genre of sketches and studies. It is located at the Abramtsevo Colony in Sergiyev Posad, Russia.
The artwork depicts a scene set outdoors, where a group of individuals is gathered. At the center of their attention is a prominent figure, distinguishable by his elevated hand, who appears to be narrating or performing, possibly playing a traditional stringed instrument. Surrounding him are warriors adorned in richly designed cloaks and helmets, listening intently, denoting a historical or legendary setting typical of Vasnetsov’s focus on Russian folklore. The overall mood is reflective and contemplative, characterized by the natural, rugged landscape and the softly illuminated background, embodying the ethos of the Romantic era’s idealization of history and nature.
