As Stalin's favorite artist, Alexander Gerasimov secretly painted pictures in the "nude" genre

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

The name of the legendary artist Alexander Gerasimov, who lived and worked at a time when socialist realism prevailed in art, and to this day causes heated debate both among critics and among art historians. Many consider him a court painter who painted for the sake of the government, in which there is a weighty grain of truth. But there are facts that you cannot argue with … Impressionist in essence, Gerasimov all his life remained a subtle painter, excellently painting still lifes, flowers, lyrical sketches, as well as paintings in the "nude" style.

Indeed, Alexander Mikhailovich acquired particular popularity and fame as a portrait painter at the dawn of Soviet power. In those years, he created a huge number of portraits of the leaders of the revolution and their associates. For which he was awarded titles, and Stalin prizes, and leadership positions. And accordingly, with his hands, the ruling power took the most severe measures against artists who deviated from the direction of socialist realism in art.

And so it all began …

Alexander Gerasimov (1881-1963) hails from the city of Kozlov, Tambov province, from a merchant family. This small town for the rest of his life will remain for Alexander not only a native corner of the earth, but also a refuge where the master will flee from the capital to purify his soul, relax and be inspired. There, throughout his life, he will paint canvases that will excite him personally, as a person and an artist.

Well, back in 1903, as a 22-year-old boy, he left Kozlov for Moscow to study painting. Famous painters of the 19th century - Konstantin Korovin, Abram Arkhipov and Valentin Serov will become his mentors and teachers.

The outbreak of the First World War crossed out the plans of the future artist. In 1915 he was mobilized to the front and as a non-combatant soldier he served for two years on an ambulance train evacuating seriously wounded from combat zones. The revolution of 1917 also made its own adjustments to the life of Alexander Gerasimov, he leaves military service and leaves for Kozlov, where he has been working as a decorator in a local theater for seven years.

Court painter

In 1925, the artist was drawn to the capital again. He “joins in revolutionary painting” and writes the famous posthumous portrait of the leader “Lenin on the Podium”. And needless to say, what a sensation in those years it made for the people who had lost their guide. The fame of the portrait painter was immediately entrenched for the artist. Although Gerasimov began his career with still life and landscape sketches. And it should be noted that the artist had an excellent gift to easily reproduce portrait resemblance, while not prescribing images to the smallest detail. With wide impressionist strokes, he seemed to sculpt them on his canvases, achieving tremendous recognition.

This was followed by portraits of Joseph Vissarionovich from a photo, later - from life, and over time, the artist created the "canonical appearance of Stalin." He also painted portraits of the first persons of the state. And for all the merits he was generously treated by the authorities. His political works were widely circulated, bringing the artist royalties. And at that time Gerasimov was a very wealthy person. And it was he who became the first president of the USSR Academy of Arts, created in 1947.

Critics unanimously insisted that the artist's portraits are the standard of Soviet painting and that this is how the leaders of the revolution should be painted. And who in those days could argue with that? Gerasimov was considered by all to be Comrade Stalin's favorite portrait painter. And not a single political event in the country avoided the artist, he created picture after picture, reflecting her life and historical events.

And in the early 50s, all the same critics began to present the artist in a completely new light: a careerist and a lackey, pleasing the pride of politicians. After the death of Joseph Stalin, Gerasimov's career ladder broke down, and with the arrival of Khrushchev, he became objectionable to the new authorities. And soon the artist is gradually relieved of all his posts, and his paintings are removed to the storerooms of museums, and some are simply destroyed.

But on the other hand

Nevertheless, the work of Alexander Gerasimov turned out to be much broader and more multifaceted than it is customary to talk about him. And in the history of Russian painting of the Soviet era, there are not so many artists who left their descendants a richer and more diverse heritage. However, much of what Gerasimov did was pushed into the background. The master of the ceremonial portrait was not really allowed to advertise his predilections for other painting genres.

And what is interesting, Gerasimov, a native of their merchant family, who always considered himself a proletarian, was in essence a gentleman who loved luxury, knew how to dress beautifully, and speak excellent French. Apparently, this is why from time to time he left Moscow for his hometown to be himself and work on what his soul wanted. Since his soul, which lived outside of time, did not obey any laws of the existing regime.

Gerasimov maintained friendly relations with many fellow artists. And once, having conceived to create a group portrait of the closest and most prominent of them, he persuaded those to pose for him. And the artist personally, in turn, brought and took each of the four colleagues portrayed to his country house, where his workshop was, until the work was completed.

At his leisure, the artist painted both everyday paintings and landscapes, but most of all he was interested in still lifes with flowers. He created a whole series of works depicting flowers - from simple field flowers to exquisite bouquets in chic interiors.

The artist also loved to paint women, including … soaring in the baths. Although the everyday sketches from the cycle "In the Bath" were sketches on the theme of the new Soviet life, they were not particularly advertised by the artist. And Gerasimov also wrote graceful dancers. Feminine nature was his weakness …

And as we can see, it was in genre scenes, still lifes and landscapes that the artist's true talent was revealed - bright and multifaceted.

And finally, the question involuntarily arises: Why is criticism so strict and is it worth reproaching the artist for his desire to keep up with the times? He just simply reflected the trends of the era in which he lived, was her face and a mirror. And if you dig deeper, then the world painting is full of portraits of monarchs and their entourage, as well as nobles, kings, generals. And what is curious, because it never even occurs to anyone to accuse their creators of careerism, servility, a deal with their conscience.

And in spite of everything, quite a few works from the artistic heritage of Alexander Gerasimov (about 3,000) entered the golden fund of Russian fine arts. And now they are kept in museums and art galleries of the former Soviet Union, as well as in private collections of collectors.

Continuing the theme of the artists who lived and worked under Soviet rule, the story of the last Itinerant Nikolai Kasatkin, who became the first folk artist of Soviet Russia.