BORIS KUSTODIEV

IE Repin Kustodiev called "hero of Russian painting. "Great Russian artist - and with a Russian soul," - said about him the other well-known painter - MV Nesterov. And here is what NA Sautin: Kustodiyev - artist versatile talent. Magnificent painter, he entered the Russian art as the author of important works of genre, original landscapes and portraits of deep content. An excellent draftsman and graphic artist, worked in Kustodiyev linocuts and woodcuts, book illustrations and performed theatrical sketches. He has developed his own original art system, was able to feel and embody distinctive features of Russian life. "

Boris Kustodiev was born March 7, 1878 in Astrakhan. His father, Michael Kustodiyev Lukic, who taught at a girls′ school in Astrakhan and in the seminary Russian language, literature, logic, died when the boy was not even two years. All the concerns about the education of four children lay on the shoulders of the mother, Catherine Prokhorovna. Mother rented a small cottage in the house of a rich merchant. As Boris says: "The whole way the rich and affluent merchant′s life was like on the palm . . . They were living types Ostrovsky . . . "Decades later, these experiences will materialize in the pictures Kustodiev.

First, Boris went to parochial school, and then in high school. Later he was a son of the former teacher had at public expense in a theological seminary.

Interest in drawing, the boy woke up very early. Visiting an exhibition in 1887, the Wanderers and the first time he saw pictures of these artists, he decided to become an artist.

Fifteen years he began training at the artist PA Vlasov. His pedagogical impact, moral influence were so great that Kustodiyev until the end of his life, he considered his first and best teacher. On the advice of Boris Vlasov leave the seminary. In 1896 he went to St. Petersburg and entered the Academy of Arts.

Two years later, turned the desire Kustodiev - to engage in IE Repin. In his workshop, he writes a lot from life, seeking to master the skill transfer colorful diversity of the world. "At Kustodiev - wrote Repin, - I have high hopes. He is a gifted artist, a lover of art, thoughtful, serious, carefully studying the nature . . . "

Drawing attention to the successes of his pupil, Repin Kustodiev invited to participate in the work on a large group portrait-painting "Inaugural Meeting of the State Council. " More than two years he worked under the guidance Kustodiyev Repin on the creation of this monumental canvases.

Photo — «Boris Kustodiev»

They were written about twenty preparatory sketches and the right side of the picture itself.

In parallel with this work Kustodiyev creates portraits of his contemporaries, spiritually close to him. These are portraits of the artist IJ Bilibin (1901), DL Moldovtseva (1901), engraver, VV Mate (1902).

Portrait IJ Bilibin was marked by a gold medal at the International Exhibition in Munich. Subtle psychological characteristics, bold broad stroke, the harmonious combination of white and black, sharp, slim profile makes this product one of the best in creativity Kustodiev.

In 1902 Kustodiyev took up painting at the title of the artist′s Bazaar in the village. In this canvas you can see the future of the holiday painter, intoxicated by cheap popular brightness Merchant life. The artist uses here his impressions of the Volga, with love and care prescribers interior details and clothing of his characters.

January 8, 1903 Kustodiyev marries Julia Evstafevne Proshinskoy, whom he met in the autumn during a visit to Kostroma Province. In October the same year, Boris received a gold medal, the title of the artist and the right to a pensioner′s trip abroad and in Russia for one year. In December 1903 the young couple with a newborn son, Cyril, sent to Paris and then to Spain.

In Paris, he wrote one of his most lyrical paintings "Morning". The work involves internal heat, the atmosphere of joyful motherhood.

Kustodiev interesting to see the pictures of the best foreign artists, but he rushes to his homeland: he wants to do himself. Did not use even half of a pensioner′s life, the artist comes back and immediately went to the province and there, in the Kostroma province, spent several months in intensive work. It takes several years, and there were a series of paintings "Fair" and "Village Festival" (1906-1910). Period quests completed. The artist found himself a place in art.

". . . he wrote a small picture of" Fair ". And although the figures in it is static, and the color of several conditions, pure colors of pink, blue, kumachovyh peasant skirts and scarves, colorful products in the stalls create the festive mood. In the "outing on the Volga" (1909) composition becomes more complex, more decorative color. Here Kustodiyev first resorted to compositional reception, often in the future for them to use: it looks at what is happening as if from above, from a high hill. This gives the opportunity to show over the river and the boulevard, which gradually are walking, and the opposite bank of the green with a white temple "(I.

Photo — «Boris Kustodiev»

Lapin).

Kustodiyev returned to St. Petersburg in late 1904. He is active in the "left" journal "Bugbear", and after it was banned by the Government - in "Hell-mail. He puts in these publications many caricatures of the king′s ministers and generals.

The revolutionary events of 1905 provoked a lively response in the soul of the artist. In the figure "Moscow. Entry "(1905) he tells the allegorical form of brutal suppression of the Decembrist uprising. The scenes of massacre, the rebels handed over the workers in the figure "February. Since the crackdown "(1906). Also in 1906 he makes the song "May Day demonstration in Putilov" and outline "Man with arm raised," which creates images of workers who have risen to struggle against the autocracy.

Glory to the artist in the meantime is growing. Its elected members, and even a founding member of several arts groups - the "New Society of painters", "Union of Russian Artists". And when in 1910, resuming its existence "World of Art", Kustodiev becoming one of the most active members.

By the end of the nineties have Kustodiev have two lovely children. Irina Kustodiev, the daughter of an artist, recalls: "I remember my father as a young, extremely agile, elegant, cheerful, affectionate. I remember our apartment near Kalinkina bridge on Meat Street, 19. We lived on the third floor. Height of rooms extraordinary. Five rooms, all located suite. The first - a living room with green striped wallpaper. In the living room - the studio with two windows, a dining room, children′s and parents′ bedroom. In parallel, the rooms large, wide corridor, where we floated with Cyril on roller skates, running-and-seek. Sometimes putting on commercials and dad: he always loved to roller skate. Our house was always full of dogs and cats. Pope has followed closely for their "personal life", he loved watching them, with astonishing skill to imitate their ways. It seems to me that this was similar to the AP Chekhov - and he and other "respected" animals, and depicted them in his writings as equal "members of society. "

In 1911 Kustodiyev first started working in the theater: it creates the scenery for the play, AN Ostrovsky′s "hot heart" for the Moscow theater AN Nezlobin. Set and costumes perfectly convey a well-known artist of merchant life, repeatedly reproduced them in the pictures. In 1913, he draws the MAT comedy ME Saltykov-Shchedrin′s "Death Pazukhin.

Photo — «Boris Kustodiev»

Closest in spirit to Kustodiev drama AN Ostrovsky. He performed many sets his plays: "His people are considered", "Not a penny, and then suddenly Altyn", "Thunderstorm", "Wolves and Sheep". Most of the scenery Kustodiev for all their theatricality of performance - complete easel works.

In 1912, the artist paints a picture "widow" and that starts merchant gallery of images. Main line of genre painting Kustodiev these years is related to the types and life of a provincial town. Features of his talent most strongly revealed in the three canvases, whose purpose - to create a generalized, collective image of female beauty, which was common in the understanding of the people: "Merchant′s Wife" (1915), "Girl on the Volga" (1915) and "Beauty" ( 1915).

"Kustodievskie widow in common with the heroines of Ostrovsky′s plays, short stories, NA Leskov, lazy merchant′s wife folk tales and pictures, - said I. Lapin. - They represent the well-fed, sleepy, frozen in its rigidity merchant Russia. The artist depicts them with gentle humor, languidly and mindlessly staring at the world around us. Narrow circle of their interests defined the circumstances in which they live. Typical in this regard painting "The Merchant′s Wife" in 1915 - a collective image, which embodies the artist′s representation of female beauty. In this picture, as in many similar their works, Kustodiev introduces richly painted still life. It helps to reveal the contents of the image, create an environment that characterizes his heroines. This is a sieve with all sorts of fruits and vegetables ( "Merchant′s Wife"), bread and grapes, watermelon and blue with gold cup ( "Merchant′s Wife at Tea"), necklaces, rings and silk ( "Merchant′s Wife with mirror "). . . How precious stones, they shimmer with bright colors, pleasing the eye with their elegance, simplicity and abundance. "

At the same time Kustodiyev creates a series of portraits. In 1913-1916 years he worked on a group portrait artists of the World of Art ". Kustodiyev knew these people, that gave him the opportunity to create a series of portraits with subtle psychological characteristics: NK Roerich (1913), MV Dobuzhinsky (1913), IJ Bilibin (1914), EE Lancere (1915), IE Grabar (1916). Portraits by spontaneity and originality of composition, mastery of painting. But among them the distinguished portrait Grabar. Excellent picture and sharp features make it the best in the series.

Photo — «Boris Kustodiev»

"Among the many paintings, written Kustodiev, particularly enjoys the reputation portrait FI Chaliapin. Indeed, not much there in the whole art of XX century works, with fullness and brightness, with brilliance and humor embody the character models, a world that gave birth to the actor and the world, which he praised his work.

Large, well-dressed figure of the singer occupies the entire foreground: it is closely in format canvases, head and legs rest against sections of the frame, the end of the stick goes beyond the image. And behind him, shimmering iridescent colors fun fair, fairy silver and gold Russian winter. The artist allows us a very detailed review Chaliapin. We see and ruddy, handsome face, and at ease, the stage position and a ring on his little finger, and the play of fur, and a concert by an unbuttoned suit coat, and even the expression of devotion and admiration for the haughty face bulldog at his feet. "

Most of the paintings of the last decade of life masters was written only by the enormous visual memory and an abundance of past experiences. Even in 1911 Kustodiyev went to Switzerland. Severe symptoms - swelling of the spinal cord - forced him to agree to spend several months in a private clinic in the mountain resort. In 1916 his legs paralyzed, and he is forever chained to a chair. Despite this Kustodiyev travels to Finland, Astrakhan ′, Crimea, Kostroma.

In a letter to the director VV Luga, he wrote: "Only for God′s sake, Vasily, do not talk about my illness to anyone - but rather that I was healthy, and most importantly, good spirits, however, it is true, despite the terrible pain - I myself am surprised at its viability and even cheerfulness. Oh love, can be seen "live"! "

But in order to live, Kustodiev have to work - this was his way of life.

V. Voinov, says: "In 1916, he was lying in the hospital for two months without moving. Professor forbade him to work - and he complied, but soon realized that life away from him . . . Then he begged relatives to give him paper and pencil - unbeknownst to doctors, putting the little album, he began sketching in his thoughts, and in the process of feverish work, he began to sense how, together with the spiritual fever began to return to his physical strength . . . " ;

Kustodiyev was one of the realist artists of the older generation, who gladly accepted the revolution. In his work there are new themes, inspired by the tumultuous events of those years.

"The first work Kustodiev dedicated to the revolution, depicts the overthrow of the tsarist auspicious day - wrote VE Lebedev.

Photo — «Boris Kustodiev»

- She called this afternoon. "February 27, 1917 (1917). Events seen by the artist from the window of the room on the Petrograd side, remain in the picture brightness and credibility of direct life experience. Call kumachovym winter sun lights the color of the brick wall of the house, runs through a clean, fresh air. Moves a dense crowd of people, bristle tips of guns. Ran, waving his hands, raise their hats in the air. Festive excitement felt in everything: in the swift movement, blue shadows, hopping on a pink snow in the dense, bright cloud of smoke. Here is more visible to the artist′s first direct reaction to the revolutionary events.

Two years later, in 1919-1920, in the painting "Bolshevik" he tried to summarize my impressions of the revolution. Kustodiyev uses a typical method of generalization and allegory. The narrow streets of Moscow with a thick, viscous flow flowing crowd. Glows bright colors of the sky, the sun brighten the snow on the roof, making the blue and beautiful shadows. And above all this, above the crowd and houses, with the Bolshevik banner. Autumn all around, quivering scarlet, resilient banner in the wind like a flame of joyful fire. Voiced colors, open and resonant red color - all attached to the canvas Majeure sound.

In 1920-1921 by order of the Petrograd Soviet Kustodiyev wrote two large colorful paintings on the popular festivities: "The celebration in honor of the Second Congress of the Comintern in the area Uritskogo" and "Night celebration on the Neva.

In 1920 he created his famous series of watercolors "Russian type" (1920), where the previously sleepy and placid innkeeper ( "Moscow inn") becomes ill, bloated fat creature, who are looking angrily at the world, and the merchant′s wife - a personification of the solid , settled for centuries bourgeois life.

Kustodiyev creates agitation graphics in the spirit of national lubok, covers for the magazine "Red Field" and "Red Panorama" attracted the attention of showiness, the exigencies of the plot. He often acts as an artist book, summing up his ancient Russian iconography in the book "Russia" (1923). The real event in the history of decoration of Russian books were the illustrations of the artist to the works of NS Leskov "patcher" (1922) and "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" (1923).

Death May 26, 1927 broke new creative ideas wizard.