Arkhip Kuindzhi was a Greek-Russian realist landscape artist. Born into a poor Greek refugee family in Ukraine, he faced hardship and had to work from a young age. Despite being under-educated, Kuindzhi displayed early talent in drawing and studied briefly with the painter Ivan Aivazovsky. He worked as a retoucher and later taught himself to paint in Saint Petersburg.

Kuindzhi eventually joined the Peredvizhniki art movement, which focused on realistic depictions of the Russian landscape. His paintings showcased the contrast of colors and the play of light in the atmosphere, adding a touch of sublime to his realistic scenes. He gained recognition for his mastery of illumination techniques and intense use of colors.

Kuindzhi led an isolated life, primarily residing in Saint Petersburg and Crimea. After 1882, Kuindzhi stopped exhibiting his work, leading many to believe he had stopped painting. However, he continued creating art and dedicated himself to teaching at the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, where he supported and protected his students. He was fired from the academy in 1897 for supporting student protests. Arkhip Kuindzhi passed away in 1910 at the age of 68. A posthumous exhibition showcased many of his unseen paintings and brought further recognition to his artistic contributions.