Exhibition Bogdesko I.T. Automatic translate

Ilya Trofimovich Bogdesko - People’s Artist of the USSR, author of beautiful illustrations for classical works of European literature, an outstanding calligrapher and type designer. He designed over 100 books and for 5 years worked on illustrations for Cervantes’ Don Quixote. The Attic of Artists presents the exhibition of I.T. Bogdesko, which included prints from this cycle and other illustrations from the collection of his friend and colleague V.P. Tretyakova.

The creative motto of Bogdesko: "Always in its own way, but each time in a different way." Throughout his career, it was important for the artist to remain himself and follow his own aesthetic principles. He worked, “feeling the viewer behind him,” but never succumbing to outside influence. Of course, Ilya Trofimovich was attentive to the heritage of other masters. The work of Cervantes at one time was illustrated by Goya, Hogarth, Dore and Picasso. Bogdesko studied with his predecessors, but not literally, forgetting himself under the hypnotic power of their works, but retaining his own view. For him, this is an opportunity to learn not so much artistic techniques as the ability to see and reason. He learned the same from young artists with their fresh vision.

The main principle of Bogdesko as an illustrator is the observance of the integrity of the book. Each element of the publication should be associated with another, everything should work for the full disclosure of the author’s intention. Variegation and variability of design are unacceptable. That is why Ilya Trofimovich became interested in calligraphy and mastered working with fonts - the integrity of the book creates ideal conditions for its perception. Bogdesko tried to feel the text and not depict it literally, but to let it pass through his own sensations, as if he himself had witnessed these events. He wanted to understand the heroes enough to recognize them among friends, relatives, acquaintances, random passers-by on the street. This is the only way to bridge the gap between the writer and the reader, leaving the latter with a sense of the truth of what is happening.

Bogdesko himself wrote: “Often in painful hours of creativity, I curse my work, curse my illustrations and tell myself (again!) That these will be the last torture! Let the one to whom they do not deliver so much torment deal with this matter. But when, after a month or more, suddenly, without any effort, sometimes easily, imperceptibly, ridiculously simple, a drawing appears, everything pays off: torment, and longing, and anger, and disappointment. And again I plunge into the pool and the cycle of illustrations! And I think: if the reader knew! However, he does not know - and rightly so! When you eat bread, you also don’t know, or rather, don’t think… The greatest torment and the greatest joy are brought to me by a book illustration. Perhaps this is my calling, my true love. "