Aleksandr Gerasimov
Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1936. Item #894
Book measures: 14.5 x 11 cm. 42 pages, 17 unnumbered pages of plates: illustrations (1 color). At head of title: Mastera Sovetskogo Iskusstva. There is a tear on one of the plates, along with rust and creasing on the front wrapper. Additionally, there are occasional pencil marks found in the text. As of April 2024, OCLC locates five institutional holdings of the book.
A proof copy used for testing or as a sample before the final production.
Aleksandr Mikhailovich Gerasimov (1881 – 1963) was a significant figure in Soviet and Russian art, renowned for his adherence to socialist realism. Born in Kozlov (now Michurinsk) in Tambov Governorate, he honed his skills at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, advocating for traditional representational art amidst avant-garde movements. Serving in both World War I and the Russian Civil War, he later transitioned to stage design, promoting revolutionary themes. Returning to Moscow in 1925, he established a studio, blending academic realism with impressionistic elements, notably portraying revolutionary leaders like Lenin. Despite criticism for his association with Stalin and his authoritarian leadership in artistic organizations, Gerasimov's work retained genuine artistic merit, characterized by his exploration of landscapes with an almost impressionistic flair, diverging from the conventional tone of his official portraits.
Price: $100.00