GRINBERG Vladimir Arievich

February 9, 1896 (Rostov-On-Don) — January 29, 1942 (Leningrad)

Painter, graphic artist

Grinberg came from a petty bourgeoisie family. He studied at the Tsarevich Alexei’s Commercial College in Rostov-on-Don (1904–1914), where he received his primary art education under A. M. Volochinkov. Grinberg graduated from the college with a gold medal and the degree of candidate of Commerce. He was conferred the title of the honorary citizen of Rostov-On-Don.

Since 1914 Grinberg started to participate in exhibitions (the 4th spring exhibition of Rostov-Nakhichevan-On-Don Society of Fine Arts). In 1915 he moved to Petrograd; passed examinations in the Higher Art Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture under the Imperial Academy of Arts, but was not admitted because of the high percentage of the Jewish. Grinberg also studied at the Polytechnic Institute in Petrograd (1915–1917) and at the M. D. Gagarina studio (since 1915) under O. E. Braz, M. V. Dobuzhinsky, D. N. Kardovsky, E. E. Lanceray and A. E. Yakovlev. He participated in the exhibition of the group Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”), which was held at the E. N. Dobychina art bureau (1917).

In 1917 Grinberg returned to Rostov-On-Don. He lectured at his own studio (late 1910s — early 1920s), the 1st Soviet Art School under the Department of People’s Education (Narobraz, 1917–1920), Art College (1919–1922), and at the worker faculty of Don University (1921–1922) in Rostov-On-Don.

In 1919 Grinberg became the member of the Union of Art Workers, and in 1920 — member of the Rostov-Nakhichevan-on-Don union of artists. He worked on the festive decoration of the city by the first of May (1920). He also worked as an artist in the Political Education Departments of the North Caucasian Military District (1921–1922). Grinberg painted a number of portraits of the members of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern District — K. E. Voroshilov, S. M. Budenov, A. S. Bubnov and others. He created a series of portraits in charcoal and sanguine (1918–1922).

In 1922 Grinberg settled in Petrograd. He attended an art studio under the House of arts and worked there as a secretary. In 1930 Grinberg was elected to the board of the Society of painters. In 1932 he became the member of Leningrad House of Scientists.

Grinberg created landscapes, portraits, still lifes; he was also engaged in the book and magazine graphic art. He participated in the competition for the design of the A.S. Pushkin monument, where he was awarded the 1st prize (1924, not implemented). Grinberg created illustrations for American Stories by O` Henry (1925, not published), Chinese Boy by F. Bret Harte (1927), Students (1927) and Tema’s Childhood (1920s) by Garin-Mikhailovsky, Yasha Anson Arrest by Strauyan (1928) and others. In 1930s — early 1940s he collaborated with the magazines YeZh (“Monthly Magazine” or “Hedgehog”; until 1935) and ChIZh (“Extremely Interesting Magazine” or “Siskin”).

In early 1930s Grinberg was accused of formalism. In 1934–1935 he worked under the contract on a series of Leningrad landscapes (New Leningrad, Socialist Leningrad). Grinberg visited Uglich (1935), Gurzuf (1937), Gelendzhik (1939); during his journeys he performed a number of watercolors and oil paintings. In 1941 he created a series of pictures of models in the technique of gouache.

Grinberg was a member and exhibitor of the group Shestnadtsat (“Sixteen”, 1924), the Association of the artists of Revolutionary Russia (AKhRR) — the Association of the artists of the Revolution (AKhR, since 1928). He participated in exhibitions of the Soviet art in the United States (1924–1925), Japan (1926–1927), Paris (1929), the 14th International Art Exhibition in Venice (1927), the Anniversary Exhibition of Fine Arts (1927), the First Public Exhibition of Fine Arts (1930) in Leningrad, the exhibition Artists of the RSFSR for 15 years in Leningrad and Moscow (1932–1934) and others. In 1930 personal exhibition of the artist was held in Leningrad (1930). Since 1933 Grinberg was a member of Leningrad Department of the Union of Soviet Artists (LOSSKh).

Grinberg lectured at the circle of Fine Arts under K. Marx (early 1920s), the State Architectural Institute (1923–1927), Leningrad Technical School of Industrial Art (1926–1927), Leningrad Construction Institute (1929–1932), Leningrad Institute of communal construction (1930–1941), Leningrad Institute of Painting, Architecture and Sculpture (1932–1933), Leningrad Engineering Construction Institute (1933–1939, since 1937 he headed the department of drawing and painting of the faculty of architecture), in the circles of advanced studies at Leningrad House of Architect and at Leningrad Project Institute (Lenproekt, 1930s).

During the Great Patriotic War, Grinberg stayed in Leningrad. He participated in the construction of defensive structures. Grinberg died in the besieged city; was buried at the Ohtinsky cemetery.

Retrospective exhibitions of Grinberg’s works were held in Leningrad–St. Petersburg (1946, 1976, 1982, 1987, and 1996), Rostov-on-Don (1996), Barnaul (2002), and Moscow (2008).

Grinberg was one of the most significant representatives of the so-called Leningrad school in 1920s–1940s, along with N. A Tyrsa, N. F Lapshin, A. Uspensky, A. Vedernikov, A. I. Rusakov, A. N Samokhvalov and others. In 1910s — early 1920s he was influenced by A. E Yakovlev and V. I. Shukhaeva. This influence was expressed in charcoal and sanguine works. Later Grinberg developed his own style which can be characterized by recurrence of motifs, free brushwork, the desire for plastic and tone generalization, thin nuanced colors.

Works by Vladimir Grinberg are in many museums and private collections, including the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the State Museum of History of St. Petersburg, Rostov Regional Museum of Fine Arts in Rostov-on-Don, and others.