Born in Nikolaev (Ukraine) 1911. Studied at Nikolaev Art Tekhnikum 1930-33. Active in
Odessa, Ukraine. Began exhibiting 1937. Important shows include "All-Union Art
Exhibition", Moscow, 1950; "All-Union art Exhibition", Moscow, 1951;
"All-Union Art Exhibition, Moscow, 1952; "All-Union Art Exhibition", Moscow
1955. Specialised in portraits, genre paintings. Well-known works include Svetlana
Shipunova, an Outstanding Student (1950); Kiev Museum of Ukrainian Art); A Nurse
(1955; Kiev Museum of Ukrainian Art); My Thoughts, Thoughts (1959-60; Kiev Museum
of Ukrainian Art). Became a Soviet academician 1958. Awarded title "People's Artist
of the USSR" 1963. Leading Ukrainian realist.
(
The picture shows Stalin as a political commander at the frontline near Tzaritzin (now Volgograd) together with commander Voroshilov.
In reality Stalin never was so near to the frontline in the civil war.
"The most famous definition of Socialist
Realism is Aleksandr Gerasimov's explanation: 'Socialist Realism is art that is
realistic in form but Socialist in content.' 'It is primarily optimistic about
life', Gorky explained, 'and is cognisant of its didactic educational role as it
portrays information through images.' But if you study these paintings carefully,
you'll find contradictions everywhere when it comes to realism. In fact, I've
never seen paintings with more contradictions."
(Anne Visser, "Lenin in Art - The History of an
Illusion", Azerbaijan International 14.2, Summer 2006.)
"Lenin", oil on canvas, 69.5 x 50 cm.
"Portrait of the Leader", oil on canvas, 60 x 48.5 cm.
"Stalin and Mikojan at the Kremlin", oil on cardboard, 29.5 x 25 cm.