Beautiful paintings by Kustodiev have long gained worldwide fame, although there aren’t too many of them. The name of Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev is immediately associated with the painting “Tradeswoman at tea”. His deliberate “Russianness”, “fairness”, and the “breakthrough” inherent in some works are not the whole of Kustodiev.
The world of Kustodiev - an artist, illustrator and theater decorator - is much wider and more powerful. The versatility of the artist’s work and love for his homeland allowed him not to get lost in the bowels of the revolutionary movement. Kustodiev did not leave for emigration, but remained in the USSR. Terminally ill, chained to a wheelchair, he worked without sparing himself. It was difficult for him to hold his hands, but thanks to his unsurpassed talent and willpower, his brilliant, bright, full of life and joy, paintings appeared.
Here are the most famous works of Kustodiev:
1
Portrait of I. Ya. Bilibin (1901)
Bilibin, a famous artist, fairy tale illustrator, was a friend of Kustodiev. This portrait is an early, but already confident work, when Kustodiev studied in the workshop with Repin. You can still feel the imitation of the teacher, there is still no corporate “Custodian style”, but the portrait is made masterfully and very realistic.
An elegant young intelligent man in a snow-white shirt and an elegant frock coat is seated in front of the viewer. In the buttonhole of a frock coat is a red flower, as a symbol of smartness and a lover of women. The hero is a very handsome young man, self-confident and slightly ironic.
By the way, we have prepared an interesting article about the most beautiful and famous portraits of artists around the world.
2
On the terrace (1906)
Traditional provincial life has always attracted Kustodiev. He liked scenes from the life of ordinary people, their patriarchal way. The painting "On the Terrace" is distinguished by the warmth and comfort of country life.
The whole family gathered at the table for evening tea. In the distance you can see the forest, a solid country house where the family lives, has just been built. In the foreground is not just a big family: children and adults. This is the family of the artist himself. His wife, sister with children and husband, and a young nanny. Calm conversation, peace, family idyll is emphasized by the abundance of white in the clothes of all characters.
3
Moscow Tavern (1916)
Moscow tavern is not just an eatery where you can eat. This is a serious institution where merchants and various trade and artisans came to relax, chat and eat. Visitors are served by well-trained genitals. The interior of the institution is bright, festive and cozy.
In the center of the picture, at a common table, a group of people in the same uniform is depicted. Perhaps the guild of cabmen marks some event with tea. They dignifiedly drink tea from porcelain saucers. Behind the counter, the innkeeper turns on the gramophone.
4
Shrovetide (1916)
This fabulous picture is saturated with bright colors and their various shades. Snow literally sparkles in the sunset, creating unthinkable rainbow modulations that combine with the overall holiday mood of the picture. Most striking is the sky with interwoven emerald, pink and yellow clouds, so beautiful that you can not take your eyes off it.
Creating this masterpiece, Kustodiev experienced the strongest torment. A spinal tumor turned the young man into an invalid. For a long time he did not take brushes in his hands, but overcoming pain, he decided to create a cheerful canvas full of happiness and energy. Against the backdrop of a beautiful winter landscape, a cheerful trio rushes, because of the snowdrifts, elegant sleighs drawn by horses come out. In the distance you can see the circus and the festive fair. People are having fun, rolling down the hills, playing and dancing.
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5
Merchant's wife at tea (1918)
The Russian beauty, a luxurious merchant, was written in the most anxious and hungry years after the revolution. Kustodiev was already seriously ill, collapse was raging in the country, poverty and lack of elementary bread. But then a canvas appears, full of life and prosperity, which made an extraordinary sensation.
On the balcony of the house, behind a samovar with different dishes and goodies, against the background of an idyllic landscape, a merchant is sitting. A fat, beautiful, sleek, healthy-looking beauty with snow-white sugar shoulders and hands in a blue-violet velvet dress. Next to her is a well-fed cat, as a symbol of well-being and homeliness.
6
Portrait of Chaliapin (1921)
Shrovetide festivities, triples with bells, fair, turquoise sparkling hoarfrost on trees, noise and din. And against this background, an impressive figure of the most famous Russian opera singer - Fedor Chaliapin. He stands in an open beaver coat, leaning on a cane, like a real Russian master. A theatrical pose, a snow-white shirt front, a black butterfly and patent leather shoes emphasize belonging to the scene. His dog faithfully looks at the singer - a white bulldog.
In the lower left corner, against the background of a billboard advertising the performance of Chaliapin, two daughters of the singer Marfa and Masha are shown, in company with I. Dvorishchin, a friend of the family.
This picture is a real monument to the Golden Russian Voice.
7
Tradeswoman with a Mirror (1920)
The young merchant woman gave her a silk shawl. The beauty is not overjoyed, flaunts at the mirror, and the merchant is standing in the doorway, admiring his treasure - his wife. He is clearly glad that the purchase was to his liking. The picture is saturated with bright colors - raspberry, green, blue, burgundy.
8
Blue House (1920)
This is an idyllic picture of how the Russian family should look. This is life, which is divided into certain periods: happy childhood, carefree youth, romantic youth, wise maturity, respected old age, withering and completion of earthly life. The house is surrounded by greenery and sunlight. Blue color is a symbol of peace and happiness.
9
Tradeswoman with purchases (1920)
The bright canvas depicts a moment in the life of a merchant. The dear merchant mercifully returns home after a fruitful walk. She is happy, like most modern women, after a shopping trip. Her assistant keeps up with her. In his hands is a shopping cart. What is there not only! And fish, and greens, and sugar head, and various delicacies. In the hand is a bag from which you can see a wine bottle. Obviously, the merchant is waiting for guests for dinner.
The richness and position of the merchant is emphasized by all her appearance: an article, posture, clothes and, of course, the presence of a servant. A lace cape favorably sets off a pink brocade dress, a turban in the color of an expensive scarf dress and a small elegant umbrella complete the image of a merchant.
10
After a thunderstorm (1921)
The blue of the sky creates an extraordinary, fabulous atmosphere throughout the landscape. A huge rainbow in the whole sky shines with colors. The landscape is filled with all sorts of events - away from a lightning strike, a house caught fire, and black smoke spreads across the sky, people come running from all over the fire. Closer to the foreground, reapers are working on a golden field. Bathers splash in the ultramarine river.
This painting was painted in the style of modernism - the artist deliberately distorts perspective and space. The foreground and background are not inferior to each other in brightness, which makes the picture illustrative, popular, but full of drama and life realities.
Afterword
"Self portrait." 1912
Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev is a talented, original Russian artist, whose work inspired hope in the most difficult years of the country's life. His work is a hymn to life, joy and health. The editors of most-beauty.ru asks you to write in the comments which paintings of Kustodiev made the greatest impression on you. And although the format of our site does not allow us to build art galleries in the articles, we still decided to add some more wonderful works by Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev without a description.
More paintings by Kustodiev:
The outrage of the settlements against the boyars (1897)
Portrait of Yu.E. Kustodieva (1903)
Walking on the Volga. 1909
His Imperial Majesty the Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Aleksandrovich All-Russian Autocrat (1915)
Winter. Epiphany Baptism (1915)
Fontanka at the Kalinkin bridge (1916)
Balagans (1917)
Palm auction at the Spassky Gate (1917)
Sailor and sweetheart (1920)
Bolshevik (1920)
This concludes our article. Thanks for your attention.