Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin, born on January 13 (25), 1832, in Yelabuga, Vyatka Province, and died on March 20 (April 1), 1898, in St. Petersburg, was an outstanding Russian landscape painter, artist, draftsman, and etcher. He represented the Düsseldorf School of Art.

Shishkin became an academician in 1865, a professor in 1873, and headed the landscape studio of the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1894 and 1895.

Shishkin's work was characterized by precision in drawing, even in the smallest details, and truthfulness in representations. His paintings can be used to study the structure of plants. Although his mastery in color was inferior to his drawing talent, Shishkin's landscapes were realistic and reflected his thoughtful attitude towards nature rather than romantic enthusiasm.

Shishkin paid special attention to the depiction of trees, giving them unique individuality and authenticity. In his paintings, birches, oaks, and pines are portrayed at different stages of life, from youth to old age.

Shishkin sought to convey nature at its peak, filling his canvases with summer sunlight and achieving tonal unity. This limited his creativity, depriving it of the bright colors of spring and autumn. Excessive realism muted the emotional background of the landscapes, pushing color to the background.

Shishkin's talent was more vividly expressed in monochrome drawings and etchings. Starting with engraving in Zurich, he constantly used the etching technique. His landscape etchings were published in albums, drawing attention to this art form.

Shishkin's most famous work is the painting "Morning in a Pine Forest." In the late 1880s, the owner of a candy factory, Ferdinand Theodor von Eynem, decided to decorate his products by commissioning a copy of the painting. The candies "Mishka Kosolapy" received high awards at fairs in Nizhny Novgorod and Paris. The wrapper design, created by Manuel Andreev in 1913, included the painting's motif and Bethlehem stars, as the candies were a popular Christmas gift.

Shishkin died in March 1898 at his easel, working on a new painting. He was buried at Smolensk Cemetery in St. Petersburg, but in 1950, his remains were transferred to the Tikhvin Cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.