Искусство РСФСР

The emergence of outstanding artists over the last few decades shows most convincingly what wide possibilities are inherent in the method of socialist realism, which is not bound by narrow dogmas but presupposes great variety in stylistic aspiration and creative ma

In the late 50s and early 60s the Russian school of painting was distinguished by a tendency towards austere romanticism. Many young painters, sculptors and graphic artists were drawn to the great construction projects in Siberia, to the toil of spidermen, geologists, the fishermen of the North and the geological prospectors of the Arctic. In the paintings of P. Nikonov, V. Popkov, A. and P.Smolin, and P.Ossovsky, and in graphic series we see the romanticism of daily work. The creations of these artists have some points in common — monumentality of pictorial and compositional ma

Many canvases devoted to history, to the early years of the revolutionary movement in Russia and to the Civil War also have an atmosphere of romanticism. In E.Moiseenko’s paintings, original and complex, one feels the breath of the stormy events of the past.

Genre pictures which reveal the people’s conceptions of beauty, the dignity of human personality and the value of life have lately acquired importance. Among Soviet genre painters are V. Ivanov, V. Popkov, D.Zhilinsky, A. and S.Tkachiov and Yu.Kugach, each of whom has his own specific approach.

All the artists of the Russian Federation show an unfading interest in traditional lyrical landscape. Sergey Gerasimov whose works in this particular genre have invariably attracted attention thanks to their lucid lyricism, their love of nature, their ability to convey precisely and delicately the unique quality of those parts of Russia which are near and dear to him, has been responsible for the development of an entire galaxy of landscape painters. Daring colour solutions and heightened emotional expressiveness are to be found in the landscapes of V.Stozharov, I. Sorokin, and A.Tutunov. The landscapes of B.Domashnikov, V.Yukin and S.Yuntunen are always pleasing to the eye.

Work on the portrayal of Lenin has always occupied a place of its own in Soviet art, and the artists of the RSFSR have made a considerable contribution to Soviet Leniniana. Today artists are seeking solutions in which the great leader is seen with the people, with his comrades of the revolution, in the thick of events. The common tasks and aspirations do not rule out a variety of creative solutions. On the one hand, there are the works of V. Serov, who chose to treat his subject as genre scenes (for example, his Peasant Delegates with Lenin), on the other, the monumental canvas 1918 by G.Mosin and M.Brusilovsky; poles apart in pictorial and compositional characteristics and emotional impact is the expressive and dynamic series of linocuts of D.Bisti for V.Mayakovsky’s poem V.I.Lenin; or the compositionally complex, lively etchings done by V. Petrova and L. Petrov, striking in their graphic effects and profound as portrayals of individual characters — from the series of illustrations for John Reed’s Ten Days That Shook the World to the 1917 series. A.Mylnikov has created a large-scale panel-curtain with a portrait of Lenin for the Kremlin Palace of Congresses.

The centenary of Lenin’s birth inspired many sculptors to create a number of monuments to the leader of the proletariat — monuments that have been erected in the Soviet Union and abroad (among them one in Leningrad, designed by M. Anikushin, and the other in Berlin, designed by N.Tomsky).

The large-scale plastic art has attained extraordinarily wide scope lately. Memorials and monumental sculptures have appeared in many cities in Russia and abroad, devoted to outstanding statesmen, scientists and artists, to heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, to victims of nazism and the events of the Civil War.The solution of the problem of the large-scale complex, of a synthesis of fine arts in monumental ensembles is of great importance.

A number of monumental sculptures have been created by N.Tomsky, Ye. Vuchetich, V.Tsigal, L.Kerbel, A.Faydysh, V. Isayeva, L.Golovnitsky, etc. Studio sculpture continues to develop. Some of the finest examples in this field have been executed by M. Anikushin, L.Lankinen, Yu. Alexandrov, T.Sokolova and V.Tsigal. The sculptures of L.Kremneva, Yu.Chernov and the typically lyrical compositions of Ye. Belashova, A.Pologova and O.Komov are devoted to the working people.

A breadth of conception and a striving for a poetic vision of life distinguish the genre of easel graphic works. In 1961 V.Favorsky created the propaganda engraving We Must Secure Disarmament, and shortly before that Birds in Flight, one of the most poetic pieces in Russian graphic art. This approach to life, to the problems of our time symbolizes the many-faceted view of the world, of the tasks of art, which is characteristic of the Russian graphic school.

At the end of the fifties and the sixties prints gained great popularity. The flourishing of this genre is above all co

Over the last few years the etching has become as popular as the linocut. Many artists also remain faithful to such techniques as drawing, water-colour and gouache. Water-colours by N. Volkov, V. Alfeyevsky, and A. Kokorin show lyrical townscapes of Moscow, its new and old districts, and other cities or towns of the Soviet Union.

The graphic series by L.Soyfertis devoted to sporting events and the Moscow Metro are notable for their original ma

The series of easel graphic works by V.Tsigal and N.Ponomariov reflect the artists’ meditations about the people, their work, and their links with nature. Ponomariov’s Vietnam series is interesting not only because of his “discovery” of new motifs, but primarily because of his concern for the life of people fighting for their country’s freedom.

Black-and-white book illustrations extend to all kinds of literature — Russian and world classics, Soviet multinational literature, epic and popular science literature; a large group of illustrators also work for literary periodicals. Book illustrators in Moscow and Leningrad are known for their high standards of book design and illustration, and their view of the book as an integral artistic whole. V.Favorsky continued to work in Moscow to the very end of his life. A. Goncharov, S.Pozharsky, S.Telingater, I. Fomina, E.Burgunker, D.Bisti, and B. Markevich who concentrated mainly on lino- and woodcuts have greatly contributed to book design and illustration. Whole series of book illustrations of great interest have been executed by D.Shmarinov, N. Kuzmin, B.Prorokov, Ye. Kibrik, V.Goriayev, V. Minayev, etc. Among Leningrad artists we should mention V.Konashevich, A. Pakhomov, G.Yepifanov, Ye.Charushin, and Yu. Vasnetsov. The Leningrad school of graphic art has always been famous for children’s books. A pioneer in this field, V. Lebedev developed in a truly creative way the principles of design and illustration of books for the youngest children. He and his pupils have collaborated to good effect with well-known Soviet writers and poets. Lebedev and his pupils have illustrated books by S. Marshak and K. Chukovsky, which have become classics in their own field and attained world fame. These books are constantly being reprinted, they do not lose their aesthetic value as years go by, and they enjoy popularity with every new generation of the readers. Soviet book illustration has achieved international recognition, and many publications have been awarded prizes of various kinds at international competitions.