Moscow and Muscovites on the canvases of the impressionist of the era of socialist realism Yuri Pimenov

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

When it comes to socialist realist artists, for some reason, many people immediately associate their work with the images of leaders, Stakhanovite leaders, and also with red flags and many other patriotic and propaganda paraphernalia. But in Soviet times there were other masters who wrote the ordinary life of ordinary people, their everyday joys and sorrows. And today I would like to recall the wonderful painter of the everyday genre of the era of socialist realism - Yuri Pimenov. This artist managed to accomplish the unthinkable at that time: while remaining true to himself, he created paintings that everyone loved and understood …

The world of creativity of the artist Yuri Pimenov is a special world in which each viewer makes new discoveries for himself of that distant Soviet era. And today we can say with confidence that the deep intimacy of the Pimenov paintings is in their true vitality. You can see for yourself by looking at the gallery of the best works of the artist.

These are novella paintings, concealing everyday stories that have passed through the artist's emotional experiences, his worldview and talent. The master of the brush created his painting in the style of renewed impressionism, based on a "beautiful moment" with light romantic notes and a certain lyricism, which gave his works a special, I would say, solemn mood. And he generously filled these moments to the brim with true life, desires, feelings and mood.

However, the artist's unusual writing style deserves special attention - a small translucent brushstroke, which became his unique author's handwriting for the rest of his life, as well as the genre of lyric painting, which remained forever his element. Many art critics considered Pimenov a real chronicler of the time in which he lived and created his impressive canvases.

A little about the master of socialist realism, not like the others

Painter, theater designer, graphic artist, People's Artist of the RSFSR, full member of the USSR Academy of Arts - Yuri Ivanovich Pimenov (1903-1977) was a native Muscovite. He was born and lived in a house not far from the Tretyakov Gallery, therefore, as a boy, he spent most of his free time in the halls of the famous gallery. And therefore, from an early age, drawing was his favorite hobby.

Yuri considered his first mentor and teacher to be his father, a lawyer by profession, who was an excellent amateur artist. During his school years, Yura Pimenov did not really get along with mathematics, but he was excellent with brushes and paints, which, of course, did not go unnoticed. In high school, the drawing teacher helped the talented boy to enter the Zamoskvoretsk art school.

And in 1920, the gifted young man already studied at VKHUTEMAS - one of the best art institutions in the country. And after graduation in 1925, together with other graduates, Yuri Pimenov entered an art association called the Society of Easel Painters. It was during this period that the young artist was seriously fond of German expressionism, which was clearly manifested in his work. In 1927, he created the canvas "Give it to Heavy Industry!", Which was then highly praised by critics.

However, not everything was so rosy in the artist's creative career. So, at the beginning of the 1930s, difficult times came in his life. By the decree "On the restructuring of literary and artistic organizations" the authorities banned the work of all artistic associations. Pimenov himself was sharply criticized, accusing him of formalism.

The artist had a hard time enduring this time, he later recalled it this way:

But nevertheless, over time, having gathered all his will into a fist, the artist found the strength to return to work. And in the second half of the 30s, the main theme of his work was the life of the capital and the images of its inhabitants.

At that time, Pimenov could walk for days on the most remote Moscow streets and parks, drive to the suburbs of the capital and wander through the surrounding forests. He enthusiastically painted city landscapes, depicted new buildings in new Moscow and, of course, people - spiritualized, beautiful in body and soul. For this, fellow artists and art critics called him the "singer" of the capital's life and everyday life.

Even the difficult war years, Yuri Ivanovich, refusing to evacuate, spent in Moscow, creating propaganda posters. At this time, he painted portraits of heroes and genre paintings, reflecting the military everyday life of his native city.

In the postwar years, Yuri Ivanovich worked as a teacher at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). Pimenov's canvases again reflected peaceful themes: Moscow and Muscovites, new buildings, genre scenes from life.

Thus, having survived a difficult period of criticism, Pimenov became a recognized master of socialist realism. Since the mid-1950s, he traveled a lot: he visited England, India, France and Italy, wrote essays on travel, made sketches. However, the greatest love in the master's life was still Moscow, with its sights and residents who have been making its history for centuries.

And in conclusion, I would like to note that Yuri Pimenov had a special gift - to find romance and lyricism in everyday life. And unlike many of his colleagues in the workshop, Pimenov always tried to keep up with the times and tried to truly embody modern life in his works.

The creation of a quivering sensation of the singularity of ordinary life - that was the artist's creative credo. And it was so unlike the work of many socialist realists who carefully tried to polish the reality of the socialist system, idealizing and praising it.

Nevertheless, Pimenov, without any conventions, is recognized as one of the brightest and most prominent artists of Soviet art. And today his works are kept in the largest museums in the country. And what is interesting, his paintings, light, filled with quivering light and dynamics, still do not leave indifferent both fans of Western and modern art and convinced academics.

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