Ilya Ivanovich Mashkov (1881-1944) - Russian artist, whose work was in demand before the revolution of 1917 and later, although Mashkov had to change his style thoroughly, to abandon some creative experiments, to write as it should, that is, paintings in the artistic direction of socialist realism, praising the Soviet success in labor and the triumph of communism. However, the difference between an ordinary and a good artist in the ability to find his style, in the creative tasks that he set for himself and managed to properly embody on the canvas, as, for example, managed to Geliy Korzhev, Petrov-Vodkin or Alexander Deineka. Mashkov wrote brightly, colorfully, strokes applied thickly, experimented with colors and shapes - a common phenomenon for the early XX century, when many artists preferred to abandon the usual, already all tiresome manner of painting.
Moscow food. Breads
And he also created impressive still lifes - his Moscow breads really make you want to try them - they look too delicious. And plums, painted in the artistic direction of post-impressionism - it seems that they will spurt fragrant juice, and there is no greater pleasure than to slowly send one by one into the mouth, enjoying the taste.
Still Life. Fruit on a dish (Blue plums).
And for sure they are really tasty, they are not genetically modified fruits sold in modern stores, which should retain their marketable appearance under any conditions. And the fact that they are completely "oaky", sellers do not care - they sell them, not eat them.
Perhaps Mashkov's love for still lifes and food comes from his childhood. He was born in a village in what is now the Volgograd region. The family was poor, so it was possible to eat delicious and full only on holidays, study also did not shine - it was necessary to work in the shop, not "to dabble". But Ilya hated this work, the only joy was drawing, to which he gave any free minute. Soon the owners of the shop noticed that Ilyushka can scribble, and asked him to draw a signboard, and at the same time to depict somehow more attractive products that they sell.
Still Life with Fruit
One day his work was seen by a local drawing teacher who taught at the gymnasium and suggested that he study painting thoroughly. Ilya was surprised - is this what one learns? It turned out that yes, and the purpose of his life was outlined.
He left the hated shop, in 1989 began to study at the Moscow School of Painting, and very successfully - the inordinate talent was combined with a clear love of creativity and the desire to "get out in the people". But only money is always catastrophically lacking despite the praise of teachers and even the award from Sergei Tretyakov. Therefore, in 1904, Mashkov, possessing a certain practical and commercial savvy - years in the shop were still not in vain, opened his private school, where the teachers were Mikhail Larionov and Peter Konchalovsky. With Konchalovsky Mashkov was a lifelong friend, even painted a picture, where they decided to muse after a strenuous exercise kettlebell sport.
Self-portrait and portrait of Pyotr Konchalovsky
Mashkov became one of the founders of the "Jack of Diamonds" - an artistic association, which included painters working in the then fashionable style of avant-gardism. Their paintings were in demand, because and things were going well at Mashkov, he had the opportunity to visit Europe, familiarize himself with the leading works of painting, and when he arrived, began to study at the course Serov and Korovin.
Held and his own exhibitions, his work was distinguished by irrepressible, bright mixing of colors, which pissed off some art critics. "I am the most successful artist in Russia, really only by the amount of swearing" - joked Mashkov.
Lying model
Revolution Mashkov accepted the revolution with joy and was always in business - he taught, was a member of various artistic associations, which in those years appeared a lot. In 1925, he wrote a triptych "Moscow Sneed", which after the semi-starvation times of war communism and the Civil War was perceived as somewhat defiant. But that's the way Mashkov - creativity is more interesting to him than the opinion of critics. However, he was expected to paint on revolutionary themes, and he goes to the Crimea, where he paints nude bathers.
Gurzuf. Women's beach
Finally, he returned to his roots, to the village where he was born, hoping at least there to find suitable types for deep psychological portraits.
His peasant women dorodnosti and article resemble Rubensov's beauties, and to the cause of building communism, he began with the passion with which he wrote still lifes and portraits.
A collective farmer with pumpkins
At the same time, he composed numerous complaints and denunciations, trying to settle scores with his critics and enemies, of whom he always had plenty. His attempts to show the joy of socialist labor in his paintings because of his inability to find the right balance between reality and colorfulness look a little bit played, but this was the style of the artist and his vision of the world, as if he always hopelessly missed that happy, bright, joyful life, as in his paintings, so he wanted to display it.
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