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1869 - 1939

Konstantin Somov

description

A Russian painter and graphic artist, a master of portrait and landscape, a book illustrator and theater artist, the author of a series of works of small plastics.

He was born into the family of art historian Andrei Somov, who worked as the curator of the Hermitage. His mother, Nadezhda Lobanova, was a talented musician and a well-educated lady. Konstantin had been interested in art since childhood.

Somov was one of the leaders of The World of Art society in its first and second variations; he was actively engaged in organizing exhibitions in Russia and Europe and worked in the magazine of the same name. He was also a member of the Union of Russian Artists. Thanks to his exceptional portrait talent, Somov preserved for the history and descendants the appearance of dozens of significant personalities of his Russian era – A. Blok and M. Kuzmin, A. Benois and S. Rachmaninov, F. Sologub and V. Ivanov, as well as Russian Parisians.

Key Ideas:

– Somov’s painting manner corresponded to the aesthetics of The World of Art association, that is, it harmoniously combined dreams with reality, differing in poetry, refined spirituality of the characters. The artist created a new type in the portrait genre – retrospective. He depicted his contemporaries in the outfits of past eras, on the background of old parks. For example, behind the famous “Lady in Blue” (model – E. Martynova), he painted a landscape with flutists, which gives the whole picture and the image of the artist a special elegiacism.

– The famous portraits of representatives of the Moscow intelligentsia, on the contrary, are characterized by objectivity. The portraits are real and transmit their intellectual energy to the viewer. But this ultimate objectivity and the reality of the master are special due to the fact that he uses a mixed technique. After completing the drawing with a pencil, the portraitist applies the coloring with watercolor, places the accents with whites, and sometimes works with colored pencils. The example of such, almost photographic, works are the portraits of A. Blok, V. Ivanov, M. Kuzmin and F. Sollogub.

– The laconicism of the composition in combination with the subtlety of color and the virtuosity of technique allows art historians to use the term “Somov’s portrait”. In self-portraits, the master treats himself with detached inquisitiveness, conveying the touch of the “dandyism” that was typical of him in almost all works. This can be seen in the refinement of clothes and in some talented panache of the graphic manner of performance and the chosen color.

– As a successor, and sometimes the legislator of the traditions of the “World of Art”, Somov works very hard in the book graphics (Gogol’s “Nose” and “Nevsky Prospekt”, Ivanov’s work, the covers of Balmont’s and Blok’s books). Exquisite in color, pattern and ornaments, graphics also bear a seal of retrospectivism, expressed in the special romanticism of subjects. Somov’s fine plastic works also belong to the samples of St. Petersburg’s refined style: porcelain images of Count Nulin, the series “Lovers”, etc. The Petersburgers as a school as a whole are more universal than Muscovites. Somov is a vivid example of such universalism. In addition to the genres already listed, he creates theatrical costumes (Columbina for A. Pavlova) and scenery, sketches for panels and household items.

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1869

1879 - 1888

1888 - 1894

1897 - 1899

1899 - 1900

1901 - 1907

1905 - 1907

1908 - 1909

1910 - 1914

1918

1919 - 1922

1923 - 1925

1926 - 1930

1932 - 1938

1939

The birth of the artist

He was born on November 30, 1869 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

He studied at the gymnasium of K. May

He studied at the gymnasium of K. May, where he became friends with Benoit, Filosofov and Nouvel – they later became the backbone of the “World of Art”. In the following years, he visited his parents in Paris, Vienna and Graz. Got carried away by theater, music and singing.

Entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts

Entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, passed the main course before 1892, then visited Repin’s workshop. He traveled around Europe with his mother and in Germany and Italy with his father; participated in the collective exhibition of the Society of Russian Watercolorists for the first time.

Improved his creative skills at the private Parisian Academy Colarossi

Improved his creative skills at the private Parisian Academy Colarossi. Met with Benois, who wrote the first article about him (“World of Art”, 1898), his views on art were similar to those of E. Lansere and A. Ostroumova.

In St. Petersburg, he worked on illustrations for Pushkin's "Count Nulin"

In St. Petersburg, he worked on illustrations for Pushkin’s “Count Nulin” and created porcelain compositions for it. He painted landscapes and, more often, portraits, such as portraits of Benoit, Ostroumova and E. Martynova (the famous “Lady in Blue”).

Took part in the exhibition of the "World of Arts"

Took part in the exhibitions of the “World of Arts”, in “36 artists” in Moscow (1902), in the expositions of the Union of Russian Artists (URA). Actively participated in the publication of the magazine “World of Art” and the periodical almanac “Art Treasures of Russia” (edited by Benoit). Two years later, his first personal exhibition was held in St. Petersburg (162 works, 1903). Exhibitions were held in Germany: Hamburg, then the Berlin “Secession” (95 works).

Collaborated with Golden Fleece magazine

Collaborated with Golden Fleece magazine, created a series named “Lovers” (small plastic), participated in the Paris «Salon d’Automne», in “International” (Venice), “New Society of Artists,” created graphic portraits of Blok and Lancere, illustrated the magazine “Das Lesebuch der Marquise” (Berlin).

He presented his works at the Georges Petit Gallery in Paris

In addition to the annual exhibitions of the URA, he presented his works at the Georges Petit Gallery in Paris, at the “Die Dame in Kunst und Mode” in Berlin and Rome. Participated in the exhibition of a female portrait (the editorial office of Apollo magazine).

He was one of 17 artists who left URA

He was one of 17 artists who left URA, participated in the first exhibition of the re-created “World of Art”, made a trip to Beaulieu (France). Received the status of a full member of the Academy of Arts.

He was appointed the professor of the State Free Art Training Workshops

The Petrograd publishing house of Golike and Wilborg released the “Book of the Marquis” with erotic illustrations by Somov, who created all the elements of the design and chose the texts in French. There is a rare version of the publication – “The Great Book of the Marquis” that contains even more frivolous additional drawings. He was appointed the professor of the State Free Art Training Workshops; taught at the school of E. Zvantseva.

On his 50th anniversary, the personal exhibition was held at the Tretyakov Gallery

On his 50th anniversary, the personal exhibition was held at the Tretyakov Gallery, several works were chosen to be presented at the Petrograd House of Arts. Like other artists, he experienced domestic difficulties, he had no orders.

He compiled a catalog of the Russian Exhibition in America

He compiled a catalog of the Russian Exhibition in America. As the commissioner, left for New York (was presented in the exposition by 38 works). He met and became close to Rakhmaninovs, whose portraits were soon created. A small personal presentation took place in the studio-store of Hirschman and Assa in Paris. The artist did not return to Russia and lived in Paris, buying an apartment on Excelelmans.

Painted many portraits, still lifes

Painted many portraits, still lifes, illustrated Prevost’s novel “Manon Lescaut” and Long’s novel “Daphnis and Chloe” (published by Trianon, Paris). Later participated and was present at the opening of the exhibition of Russian art in Brussels (1928), at the exhibitions in Copenhagen, Berlin, Belgrade. A personal exhibition of 63 works was conducted by the Lesnika studio in Paris. A personal exhibition of 80 works was held at the Golitsyn Gallery, London.

Ennually went to work with young people

Laments the death of his friend M. Lukyanov; participated with 10 works in the exhibition of Renaissance gallery (the creators of Russia), annually went to work with young people (Budanov, Uspensky, Krug et al.) in Granville, painted numerous portraits, still lifes, landscapes and genre paintings.