An exhibition of one work by A.E. Kulikov "Self-portrait" of 1948 Automatic translate

From July 28, the Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts (104 Lenin St., main exposition) will start an exhibition of one work by A.E. Kulikov "Self-portrait" of 1948. She acquaints with the work of one of the most famous artists of the Kaluga Region - Athanasius Efremovich Kulikov (1884 - 1949), a Russian and Soviet painter, graphic artist. The artist’s creativity is multifaceted, he entered the Russian and Soviet art as an icon painter, a master of monumental painting, illustrator, and theater artist. He became the creator of the school of Soviet propaganda popular print, coming from a folk art form, in the art form of which he embodied new Soviet ideas.

Afanasy Efremovich Kulikov was born on January 14, 1884 in the village of Isakovo, Maloyaroslavetsky district, Kaluga province, into a poor peasant family. From the age of 12 he was sent to Moscow, where at first he worked at a weaving factory, then he studied and worked in an icon-painting workshop. Since 1903 he attended the art studio of A.P. Bolshakova. From 1906 to 1912 he studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where his teachers were such famous artists as A.M. Korin, V.A. Serov, A.E. Arkhipov. After graduating from college, getting married, the artist moved to the city of Maloyaroslavets. In 1917 - 1918, despite serving in the army, published his first popular prints. In the 1920s and 1930s, he was commissioned by the State Publishing House, performed Soviet propaganda prints, calendar walls, and illustrated children’s books. During these years he was engaged in applied and monumental art, but also, of course, was engaged in painting, painted portraits, landscapes, subject-themed paintings, historical canvases. During these years, he participates in various exhibitions, becomes a member of various art societies: "Zhar-Tsvet" (1928 - 1929), SSH (1931), MOSSH (1932), a member of the union of artists of the first composition. In Maloyaroslavets, he and his family survived the German occupation. A.E. Kulikov died on March 15, 1949 in the city of Maloyaroslavets, where he was buried.

For his creative life A.E. Kulikov created several self-portraits, peering at himself, and displaying his appearance in the portrait, he strives to capture not so much himself as he strove for self-knowledge, for self-esteem of his personality at this stage of his life.

Self-portrait A.E. presented at the exhibition Kulikov 1948 - the last. It is not finished, the lower part of the figure is only outlined, because the artist considered this work a simple sketch. He portrayed himself at home. This self-portrait conveys not only absolute portrait resemblance, but also the inner essence of man. The author conveyed the characteristic peasant appearance that he preserved for the last years of his life. The portrait was executed with great skill: the figure is given in a slight turn to the left, the face is remarkably painted, with a graying beard, with a lock of hair falling on a beautiful high forehead; an inquiring thought is felt in the gaze directed at the viewer; in the whole appearance - a state of inner concentration. The self-portrait is almost monochromatic, differs in laconicism of execution, and the parsimony of visual means. In the most picturesque-plastic manner of performance, one follows the traditions of the Russian realistic school. The sons of the artist recognized this self-portrait as his best work. The memory of the remarkable artist, our fellow countryman, is the annual regional exhibition-competition of Kaluga artists named after A.E. Kulikova.

The exhibition runs until August 26th.