PLATOV Fedor Fedorovich

November 13, 1895 (Yalta) — February 23, 1967 (Moscow)

Painter, graphic artist, poet

Fedor Platov began his career as a poet and litterateur. In 1915–1916 he was a member of the futuristic group Centrifuge. He published his works at The second collection of the group Centrifuge. Platov owned the publishing house Peta; in 1915 he issued the futuristic literary miscellany of the same name.

In 1917–1920 Platov studied at Moscow School of painting, sculpture and architecture (MUZhVZ), at the Second State Free Art Studios under the guidance of I. I. Mashkov and L. O. Pasternak.

Fedor Platov lived in Moscow. In 1920 he participated in the meetings of the section of monumental art at the Institute of Art Culture (Inkhuk). In 1921 he presented reports Art and industry in socialist society, Facture as a synthesis of visual and constructive forms at the meetings of objectivism group of the Inkhuk, headed by N. A. Udaltsova. In 1922–1928 Platov was a member of the State Academy of Artistic Sciences (GAKhN) in Moscow. In 1920s he was engaged in color music, was interested in the music by A. N. Skryabin.

Platov painted landscapes, still lifes. Since 1925 he took part in many exhibitions. In 1925 Platov became a member of the group Ob’edinennoye Iskusstvo (OBIS, “United Art”). From late 1920s till 1932 he was a member of the Society of Easel Artists (OST), but he did not participate in the exhibitions of this Society. In early 1930s Platov was accused of formalism.

In 1932–1933 Platov exposed his works at the jubilee exhibition Artists of the RSFSR for 15 years in Leningrad. Since 1932 he was a member of Moscow Regional Union of Soviet Artists (MOSSKh). In 1934 his first personal exhibition (together with his wife E. F. Ermilova-Platova) was held in the club of the artists in Moscow. In 1937 Platov was awarded bronze medal at the World Exhibition in Paris. From 1938 till 1967 seven personal exhibitions of Platov were held in Moscow in 1938, 1945, 1946, 1952, 1955, 1962, and 1967.

In 1921 Fedor Platov lectured at the Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops (VKhUTEMAS); he delivedred lectures on pedagogy in visual arts, taught the students watercolor. He lectured also at the State Institute of Journalism (1927–1928), at the studio of the House of Architects (1938–1957). Platov was a member of the USSR Academy of Fine Arts.

Platov studied theoretical questions on art and wrote several researches: The experience with the synthetic perspective, Column and proportion, The theory of color, The monumental forms in architecture, and Drawing in the light of the laws of physics. He also studied the problems of printing art (history of types, science of types etc.).

In 1968 the posthumous exhibition of Platov’s works was organized in Moscow.

Works by Fedor Platov are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts and others.