MASHKOV Ilya Ivanovich

July 17, 1881 (Mikhailovskaya stanitsa (Cossack village), Stavropol province) — March 20, 1944 (Moscow)

Painter, graphic artist

Ilya Mashkov finished parochial school. He began to study painting and drawing at Borisoglebskaya gymnasium under the guidance of N. A. Evseev. In 1900–1909 Mashkov studied at Moscow School of painting, sculpture and architecture (MUZhVZ) under N. A. Kasatkin, A. E. Arkhipova, L.O. Pasternak, V. A. Serov and K. A. Korovin (but the course was not finished). He was awarded two silver medals for a drawing and a sketch. Mashkov became close friends with many young artists — P. V. Kuznetsov, M. S. Saryan, K. S. Petrov-Vodkin, and with the masters of future society Bubnovy Valet (“Jack of Diamonds”) — P. P. Konchalovsky, A. V. Lentulov, V. V. Rozhdestvensky, A. V. Kuprin.

In 1904 Mashkov founded his own school-studio in Moscow, his pupils were R. R. Falk, P. P. Sokolov-Skalya, V. I. Mukhina, A. D. Goncharov and others. In 1925 school was reorganized into the Central studio of the Association of the artists of Revolutionary Russia (AKhRR).

Since 1904 Mashkov took part in exhibitions of art. In 1910 he was one of the founders and participants of all exhibitions of the group Bubnovy Valet. In 1916 he joined the society Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”). Mashkov showed his works at the exhibitions of the Salon of V. A. Izdebsky, and Zolotoye Runo (“Golden Fleece”) in 1919–1910.

In 1918 the artist participated in decoration of streets and squares of Moscow for the first anniversary of the October revolution. In 1918 Mashkov worked for the Commission of fine arts under the National commissariat of education (Narkompros). In 1918–1930 Mashkov taught at the State Free Art Studios (GSKhM) — the Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops (VKhUTEMAS) — the Higher Art Technical Institute (VKhUTEIN). In 1924 the artist became a member of the Association of the artists of Revolutionary Russia (AKhRR); since 1927 he was a member of the Society of Moscow artists (OMKh). Mashkov took part in many exhibitions of Soviet art abroad: in Berlin (1922), New York (1924), Venice (1924, 1932), Toronto, Los Angeles (both — 1925), Harbin (1926), Tokyo (1927), Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen (travelling exhibition, 1927–1928), Cologne (1929) and others.

In 1928 the painter was awarded title of the Honoured Art Worker of RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic). In 1930s the artist made several trips to the Caucasus and the Crimea. Mashkov lived and worked in Mikhailovskaya stanitsa (stanitsa is a Cossack village) for long periods; there he organized a House of Socialist Culture.

The exhibition of works by Mashkov was held in 2005 in Moscow.

Ilya Mashkov is an outstanding master of Russian painting of the first half of the 20th century. His early works of 1900s — 1910s were painted under the influence of art of Paul Sézanne and Cubism; Mashkov also used futuristic methods, he was close to the traditions of street signboards and lubok (Russian popular print). Paintings of that period are characterized by deliberate deformation of forms, emotional images, expressive outline drawings, pastose manner of painting. In early 1920s Mashkov left the principles of the Bubnovy Valet, changed his art into classic traditions and realistic style of painting.

Works by Ilya Mashkov are in many museum collections, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, Volgograd Museum of Fine Arts and others.