MITROKHIN Dmitry Isidorovich

May 27, 1883 (Eysk) — November 8, 1973 (Moscow)

Graphic artist, engraver

Dmitry Mitrokhin was born to not rich family; grandfather of the artist owned small print shop. Mitrokhin studied at the Drawing school in Eysk. In 1902 he moved to Moscow, entered Moscow School of painting, sculpture and architecture (MUZhVZ), where he studied under the guidance of A. S. Stepanov and A. M. Vasnetsov. In MUZhVZ Mitrokhin met M. F. Larionov, N. S. Goncharova, and A. V. Fonvizin. At the same time he worked in the ceramic artel Murava (“Glaze”) together with S. V. Malyutin and S. T. Konenkov. In 1904 Mitrokhin transferred to the Stroganov School of Industrial Art; studied under S.-V. Noakovsky. However he did not finish his study at the School.

At the end of 1905 Mitrokhin moved to Paris, lived there for two years. He attended evening drawing classes in the Academy de la Grand Chaumière, studied under the guidance of T. Steinlen and E. Grasset. In early works Mitrokhin was influenced by the Japan engravings, by the artworks of C. Guys and H. Toulouse-Lautrec.

In 1908 Mitrokhin returned to the homeland, lived in St. Petersburg. Famous art critic A. I. Somov proposed him to write a series of articles and notes about artists and engravers for Russian encyclopedic dictionary by A. S. Suvorin. Somovs (Andrey Ivanovich and his son Konstantin Andreevich) showed A. N. Benois the drawings by Mitrokhin; therefore the young artist was invited to participate in the exhibitions of the group Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”).

Mitrokhin worked a lot as a book graphic artist; he created ex-librises and illustrations. He collaborated with publishing houses I. N. Knebel, M. and S. Sabashnikovs, Golike and Wilborg, with the magazines Apollon (“Apollo”) and Satirikon. Mitrokhin designed several books: The Story of Little Muck by W. Hauff (1912), Roland Armourbearer and Goblet by V. A. Zhukovsky, Barge by R. Gustafson (1913). Till mid 1910s the artist received recognition, and had good reputation as one of the best masters of book art.

After revolution Mitrokhin worked as a curator and head of the department of etching and drawing under the State Russian Museum in Petrograd (1918–1923). Since 1923 he was engaged in xylography, since 1927 — dry point etching. He continued to work a lot in book illustration for publishing houses of Narkompros (National commissariat of education), Zemlya i Fabrika (“Earth and Factory”), Krasnaya Nov (“Red Novelty”), Academia, the State Publishing House for Literature (Goslitizdat), and the State publishing House of Children’s Literature (Detgiz). Mitrokhin designed several books: Don Carlos by F. Schiller (1919), The Gold-Bug by E. A. Poe (1922), collected works by N. V. Gogol (1930), Aethiopica by Heliodorus of Emesa (1932), Comedies by Aristophanes and many others.

In 1919–1923 Mitrokhin was a professor at the Higher Institute of Photography and Photo technique, in 1924–1927 — professor at the faculty of graphic art at the Higher Art Technical Institute (VKhUTEIN). In 1932–1939 he headed the section of graphic art in Leningrad Union of Artists.

In 1941 Mitrokhin joined the Narodnoye Opolcheniye (“National Troops”). In 1942 he was evacuated to Alma Ata. Since 1944 he lived in Moscow. At the end of his life, Mitrokhin was in a poor state of health, but he continued to work, drew small still lifes (cycle of drawings Pharmacy glass).

The personal exhibition of Mitrokhin was held in 1963 in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, memorial exhibitions — in 1982 and in 1988 in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.

Creative activity of Dmitry Mitrokhin lasted almost three quarters of the century. During the first quarter he was considered as one of outstanding artists of Russian and Soviet book, during the second one — engraver, who created his own recognizable style; during last years he was engaged only in drawing (always from nature).

Works by Dmitry Mitrokhin are in many museum collections, including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, several regional museums, and in private collections.