Today, May 14, at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Krymsky Val (Halls 21-22) will open exhibition of drawings by Vladimir Lebedev "... I - the artist of the twenties, which conducted in the framework of the Tretyakov Gallery opens its reservists ».

Leningradets Vladimir V. Lebedev (1891-1967) thought that it has formed for the spiritual atmosphere of the twenties. However, cubism - so popular in the formative years of the artist Lebedev-plastic method - was not for his worldview. His formal methods wizard used to "collect and organize the element of Russian Art, greedy and eager to express in discipleship».

Lebedev drew from childhood, enthusiasm and passion. Interestingly, a strong draftsman, he had not received systematic education. In the years 1910-1911 attended the workshop FA Roubaix at the Academy of Fine Arts, then worked in the studio M. Bernstein. In 1910 the artist has collaborated with various satirical magazines.

At the end of 1910 Lebedev carried away Cubism, which became his school master professional culture. A striking example of Cubist experiments - lists a series of Washerwoman "or" presser "(1920-1925), in which the author consistently addresses various formal problem: he was interested in how the rhythmic organization of the composition, the interaction of simple shapes, with different texture, tone and color.

In the early 1920 Lebedev worked in the poster department of the Petrograd "windows of growth. Poster clarity moved to a children's book illustration, which the artist worked since 1921. The exhibition includes sketches of illustrations for the "elephant" by R. Kipling (1921), works by S. Marshak, "Circus" (1925), "How did jointer planer" (1927) and others, which are classic examples of children's books 1920's.

In the first half of 1920 in the works Lebedev appeared attraction to work in series, variations in family reasons. Many of the drawings that show mostly street life postrevolutionary pores (Series Panel Revolution "(1922)," New life "(1924)," NEP "(1925)), were published in satirical magazines. The artist could, like Mikhail Zoshchenko catch the style of the new Soviet life, with its peculiar way of life and caricatured characters. In works from the series "NEP", performed lampblack, there is "excess" for the genre of domestic pattern of expression. Drawing has become more beautiful and airy. Acute observation satirist replaced a little ironic admiration.

In the second half of 1920 Lebedev asked for such a traditional art motifs, such as plastic female body. Since 1926, he began systematically to draw from nature female model, an image which varies in sheets from the series "Ballerina", "guitarist" in hundreds of pictures of models depicting one or two figures. Drawings made in different techniques, demonstrate a mature mastery of the artist.

On the eve of the 1920-1930's in the works Lebedev there has been a rejection of the graphics in favor of painting, that does not happen without the influence of the changing requirements of time . In 1930, he worked on portraits and still lifes.

• Vladimir Lebedev
  Interieur ( evening with a stove). 1921. Paper, ink, brush, pencil lead, colored pencils. 37,7 x 27,5
• Vladimir Lebedev
  clown and clown. 1924. From Fig. in the book.: S. Marshak.
  Lebedev. Circus. L-d, "Rainbow", 1925. Paper, watercolor, ink, brush. 28,5 x 22,3

In 1931, some works Lebedev been criticized in the press, and Five years later, he, together with VM Konashevich became the object of serious attacks in the article "the artist as shit "(Pravda, 1936, 1 March). An article was the signal for persecution of Leningrad artists of children's books, was part of a broader ideological campaign directed against a number of artists of Leningrad.

In subsequent years, Lebedev has been active in painting and illustrating children's books. However, more recent works the artist did not go in comparison with the masterpieces of the 1920's: the pioneering work of that time were unable to find embodiment in art 1930-50's.

The exhibition features about 80 works from the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and a private collection, created by the artist in the brightest period of his work, in 1920, many of them are exhibited for the first time.

exhibition runs until June 20, 2010.

Source : Press release of the State Tretyakov Gallery