Witold Kaetanovich Bialynitsky-Birulya (1872-1957), an outstanding Russian artist, named his estate 'White Seagulls'. He was a student of V.D. Polenov and I. Levitan, a member of the Society of Wanderers, and a continuer of the traditions of Russian lyrical landscape established by A.K. Savrasov.

Bialynitsky-Birulya studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture under S.A. Korovin, V.D. Polenov, and I.M. Prjanishnikov, and also worked in I. Levitan's workshop. In 1892, his painting 'From the Surroundings of Pyatigorsk' was acquired by P.M. Tretyakov, which became the highest recognition of his talent.

In 1908, during the period of the Russian Empire, Bialynitsky-Birulya was awarded the title of academician of painting. His paintings 'Winter Dream' and 'Hour of Silence' received medals at international exhibitions in Munich and Barcelona.

In 1910, the artist visited Udomlya, was inspired by these places, and, on the advice of Ilya Repin, purchased land on the shore of a lake, where he built an estate in the style of northern modernism. The name of the estate was shortened to 'Chaika', and in 1913 its history began, closely linked to the name of Levitan.

In the early years after the revolution, free art workshops and a school for peasant children were organized here. 'Chaika' hosted such outstanding Russian artists as K.A. Korovin, A.E. Arkhipov, A.S. Stepanov, S.Yu. Zhukovsky, N.P. Bogdanov-Belsky, and A.V. Moravov.

However, soon the workshops had to be closed, and the artists began to arrange their lives in new conditions. Many of them emigrated, but Witold Kaetanovich remained in Russia and remained true to the traditions of Russian lyrical landscape until the end of his life.

Today, 'Chaika' preserves the memory of V.K. Bialynitsky-Birulya and other artists, serving as a branch of the Tver Regional Art Gallery and is open for visits.

Address: Russia, Tver Region, Udomelsky District, village of Kaskovo.

Works by Bialynitsky-Birulya include:

- 'Winter Dream', 1911
- 'Hour of Silence', 1911, National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk
- 'Emerald of Spring', 1915, GRM
- 'Early Spring', 2nd quarter of the 20th century, private collection.