Born into a merchant family in Moscow, Alexey Savrasov's passion for art emerged at an early age. He enrolled at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in 1844, studying under the guidance of professor Karl Rabus. After graduating in 1850, he soon focused his artistic endeavors on landscape painting.

In 1852, Savrasov embarked on a journey to Ukraine. Two years later, he was invited by the Grand Duchess Maria Nikolayevna to settle near St. Petersburg. His talents were recognized, and in 1857, he became a teacher at Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, leaving a lasting impact on his students, including Isaac Levitan and Konstantin Korovin.

During the 1860s, Savrasov traveled to England to visit the International Exhibition and also journeyed to Switzerland. The works of British painter John Constable and Swiss painter Alexandre Calame left a significant impression on him.

Savrasov's masterpiece, "The Rooks Have Come Back" (1871), is regarded as the pinnacle of his career. This painting depicted the return of birds and the changing of seasons with profound emotional depth, ushering in a new era of lyrical landscape art. The piece garnered critical acclaim and established his fame. In 1870, he joined the Peredvizhniki group, breaking away from the confines of government-sponsored academic art.

However, Savrasov's life took a tragic turn in the late 1870s when he spiraled into alcoholism. Personal hardships, such as the loss of his daughter in 1871, impacted his art and left him dissatisfied with his career. In 1882, he was dismissed from his position at the School, and despite the efforts of loved ones, his decline continued.