Painting. Russian artists. Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)
 Boris Mikhaylovich Kustodiev, an outstanding painter,
graphic artist and stage designer, was born in
Astrakhan. When Kustodiev studied at the Astrakhan
Theological School, he was impressed in 1887 by the
exhibition of the Russian Realist painters, the
Wanderers. Subsequently he decided to become a painter.
In 1896 Kustodiev enrolled at the Academy of Arts, St.
Petersburg, where he studied with Il'ya Repin. In 1904
he studied for a short time at Paris under Rene Menard.
That year Kustodiev visited Spain; he admired the
paintings by Diego Veldzquez.
Like Andrei Ryabushkin Kustodiev concentrated on
painting Russian provincial festivities, as in the
Shrovetide, of 1916. But in his paintings of the
merchant class Kustodiev added the spirit of satire.
Using the bright reds and blues of Russian folk art, he
delighted in painting the merchants' plump wives in
their leisure activities. One of his most striking
images is the Merchant's Wife Drinking Tea, of 1918.
Here the ample figure illuminates the tea table and the
surrounding area by her bulk and self-satisfied
expression. She is as round and successful as the fruit
on the table. This work like many others has oriental
richness of colour that Kustodiev saw as part of his
Astrakhan heritage.
In 1918 Kustodiev worked on the decorations of Petrograd
for the first anniversary of the October Revolution. His
painting The Bolshevik, of 1920, is a commanding image,
derived from popular prints of a gigantic figure with a
large red banner striding across the rooftops of a city.
As a stage designer Kustodiev worked for the Moscow Arts
Theatre. His early paintings had a theatrical quality
with their over life-size figures and commanding images.
But his designs for plays by Ostrovsky, Gogol and others
were criticised for being more Kustodiev's vision than
that of the authors. For example, his design for
Ostrovsky's Wolves and Sheep, of 1926, remains close to
his painting Moscow Tavern, of 1916, in its bright
colours and satirical figures.
Literature: Book "Russian art" A.P. Minyar-Belorucheva |
