Kuzma
artist-
adventurer
Petrov-Vodkin
Kuzma
artist-
adventurer
Petrov-Vodkin
He could have been a shoemaker like his father, or a railroad worker.
(He failed the exams for this education).
But an extraordinary mind, talent, determination,
thirst for adventure and recognition allowed him to achieve a lot.
(He failed the exams for this education).
But an extraordinary mind, talent, determination,
thirst for adventure and recognition allowed him to achieve a lot.
Kuzma spent his childhood
in the city of Khvalynsk, Saratov region, under the careful supervision of grandmothers who surrounded him with care and love.
But at school he ran into violent teenagers
to whom he had to prove his authority.
His surname interfered with the future artist throughout his life,
evoking associations with a shoemaker and a redneck ...
in the city of Khvalynsk, Saratov region, under the careful supervision of grandmothers who surrounded him with care and love.
But at school he ran into violent teenagers
to whom he had to prove his authority.
His surname interfered with the future artist throughout his life,
evoking associations with a shoemaker and a redneck ...
A Ticket to Life
In an amazing way
life brought the son of a shoemaker
with the architect of the imperial court.
life brought the son of a shoemaker
with the architect of the imperial court.
The architect R. F. Meltzer somehow came to his friend, merchant and philanthropist Yu. I. Kazarina and saw Kuzma’s work, as his mother worked as a maid for sister of Yu. I. Kazarina .
He advised the young talent to go to study in Petersburg. Kazarina decided to support him with an allowance, which she paid for many years.
He advised the young talent to go to study in Petersburg. Kazarina decided to support him with an allowance, which she paid for many years.
So, he received art education first at the Stieglitz Central School of Technical Drawing, and then at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and architecture in the workshop of V. Serov.
During his studies, he gave private lessons, designed and sculpted tiles at a pottery factory, painted churches, and created sketches for mosaics and majolica.
Thirst for adventure and lack of money pushed Petrov-Vodkin to an unusual journey.
He rented a bike in a German shop and decided to go from Moscow to Europe by it. He took a comrade with him. The campaign was aimed at advertising the miracle of technology. The newspaper "Russkoye Slovo" undertook coverage of this trip.
He rented a bike in a German shop and decided to go from Moscow to Europe by it. He took a comrade with him. The campaign was aimed at advertising the miracle of technology. The newspaper "Russkoye Slovo" undertook coverage of this trip.
Petrov-Vodkin's luggage included:
and fourteen golden five-ruble coins
- revolver
- tiger print plaid
- kettle
- underwear
- album
- paint box
- a map
Petrov-Vodkin's luggage included:
and fourteen golden five-ruble coins
- revolver
- tiger print plaid
- kettle
- underwear
- album
- paint box
- a map
There were many difficulties in the journey. Boys threw stones at them, overnight stays in unfamiliar places were associated with risk, bicycles broke down. After the bike broke down, the friends changed: one rode a bike, the second one went by train.
Nevertheless young artists reached Munich.
Nevertheless young artists reached Munich.
Nevertheless young artists reached Munich.
Nevertheless young artists reached Munich.
Несмотря ни на что молодые художники добрались до Мюнхена.
Nevertheless young artists reached Munich.
.Nevertheless young artists reached Munich.
In the famous drawing school of Anton Ažbe in Munich, there were a lot of Russian famous artists studing:
Bilibin, Grabar, Kandinsky, Dobuzhinsky, Burliuk. Kuzma was lucky: new friends saved some money for him, which was enough for a couple of months of classes and for a return ticket to Russia.
Bilibin, Grabar, Kandinsky, Dobuzhinsky, Burliuk. Kuzma was lucky: new friends saved some money for him, which was enough for a couple of months of classes and for a return ticket to Russia.
This time by boat, through Istanbul.
The cities of Italy, as well as the works of such artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione, Bellini, made an indelible impression.
The cities of Italy, as well as the works of such artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione, Bellini, made an indelible impression.
In 1905
the artist goes to
Italy
One of the biggest dreams of Petrov-Vodkin
came true in Italy
came true in Italy
One of the biggest dreams of Petrov-Vodkin
came true in Italy
came true in Italy
He climbed to the mouth of Vesuvius
and did it during it's eruption
No way!
In 1906, Petrov-Vodkin goes to Paris, where he continues to study painting. He marries a Frenchwoman of Serbian origin.
In 1906, Petrov-Vodkin goes to Paris, where he continues to study painting. He marries a Frenchwoman of Serbian origin.
To be an artist, and not visit Paris?
Just having married, Kuzma leaves alone for Africa (Algeria and Tunisia).
Traveling through the desert, the artist tries to capture faces, landscapes, interiors of houses. He creates many sketches capturing a new, unusual world.
In 1908, the artist returns to Russia. Then goes to Caucasus and to Samarkand.
Traveling through the desert, the artist tries to capture faces, landscapes, interiors of houses. He creates many sketches capturing a new, unusual world.
In 1908, the artist returns to Russia. Then goes to Caucasus and to Samarkand.
Further traveling
In 1922 (after 15 years of marriage), his wife gives birth to Petrov-Vodkin's long-awaited daughter. And six months later, another girl is born. The mother was a friend of his wife who lived with them. The artist's biographers agree that Kuzma was also the father of this girl.
In 1922 (after 15 years of marriage), his wife gives birth to Petrov-Vodkin's long-awaited daughter. And six months later, another girl is born. The mother was a friend of his wife who lived with them. The artist's biographers agree that Kuzma was also the father of this girl.
Paintings of Petrov-Vodkin refer to both iconography and symbolism.
In the famous "Bathing the Red Horse" people see the prediction of the revolution in Russia.
In the famous "Bathing the Red Horse" people see the prediction of the revolution in Russia.
CREATIVITY
One of the distinguishing features of Petrov-Vodkin's paintings is
tricolor system.
He believed that all the color richness of the world is based on the three main colors of the spectrum —
tricolor system.
He believed that all the color richness of the world is based on the three main colors of the spectrum —
Compositions of these colors of different tonality allow you to create the strongest and purest harmonies.
red,
blue,
yellow.
He also became the author of
which he discovered while falling down.
«spherical
"When I fell to the ground, a completely new impression of the landscape flashed before me, which I never seem to have received...
I saw the Earth as a planet. An unexpected, completely new sphericity embraced me…"
I saw the Earth as a planet. An unexpected, completely new sphericity embraced me…"
With the introduction of a very high horizon into the picture, the earth appears as a rounded volume, and objects are involved in movement under the influence of diagonal force fields going from the periphery to the center.
In one picture, he showed different points of view.
In one picture, he showed different points of view.
(oblique)
perspective»,
The last years of his life, Petrov-Vodkin suffered from tuberculosis. But passionate nature of the artist did not allow him to just lie in the bed. Having lost the opportunity to paint, Kuzma returned to literary creativity and wrote 2 autobiographical novels.
He was a visionary. Throughout his life, he told exciting stories that were hardly believable.
He dreamed of becoming famous, sought to enlist the sympathy of the people he respected. But these people often answered with humiliation and ridicule (from Gorky, Repin, Benoit).
But that didn't stop him.
Despite poverty and unenviable origin, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin managed to become a bright, outstanding personality and innovative worldwide famous artist.
He was a visionary. Throughout his life, he told exciting stories that were hardly believable.
He dreamed of becoming famous, sought to enlist the sympathy of the people he respected. But these people often answered with humiliation and ridicule (from Gorky, Repin, Benoit).
But that didn't stop him.
Despite poverty and unenviable origin, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin managed to become a bright, outstanding personality and innovative worldwide famous artist.
