Kuznetsova, Vera Kichigin Emelyanovna

August 10, 1904 (in a number of sources in 1908, Harbin) - 2005 (Yaroslavl)

painter, graphic artist, set designer.

born in the family of Russian settlers in China, the father of the future artist was in Harbin in the Russian army to suppress the Boxer Rebellion in 1901. In 1914-1921 worked at the ballet studio of the People's Palace of Arts in EI Ossowski. She has performed in theaters in Harbin. In 1921, became acquainted with artist Michael Kichigina, under his leadership, she studied painting and drawing at an art studio "Lotus". Among her teachers were A. Kamensky, VM Anastas'ev, AA Bernardazzi. Since 1926 designer began working on orders.

In 1928 she married Kichigina, moved to Shanghai. In 1931 joined the International Artklub, participated in all the exhibitions arranged by the club. Independently and together with her husband worked as a painter-decorator, got all the ballet Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" in the private theater "Lyasium 'staging of" Turandot "Gozzi for the theater of the French college. Collaborated with the Shanghai Ballet. Created decorative panels for the chess room of the French Club in Shanghai.

traveled extensively in China, visited Qingdao, Lyaoshan, Beijing, Canton, Hong Kong. Traveled to Japan and Korea. Exhibitions Kuznetsova-Kichigin held in Qingdao (1929), Canton (1932), Hong Kong (1932), Beijing (1932), Shanghai (1933-1939, 1944-1947), Nantan (1945).

In 1947 arrived in the USSR. She worked as an artist in Nizhniy Tagil Puppet Theater. In 1948 she moved to Yaroslavl. In 1951, repression, from 1952 to 1955, was imprisoned in the camp of the Soviet Interior Ministry Steppenwolf in Dzhezkazgan. In 1956 released (officially rehabilitated only in 1991). In 1957, the personal exhibition of works of the artist in Yaroslavl. In 1958-1960 with the participation of A. Vertinsky held a joint exhibition Kichigina and Kuznetsova-Kichigina "China. Korea "in Moscow, Petrozavodsk and Kursk. In 1959 admitted to the Union of Artists of the USSR.

in 1969-1978 traveled to Georgia, Armenia, Crimea, Central Asia. In 1969 traveled to his sister in the United States. In 1986 personal exhibition was held in 1989 and 1999 - joint exhibition with Kichigina, in 2004 - a retrospective exhibition of works by the artist, dedicated to 100 anniversary of her birth (all - in Yaroslavl).

flowering of creativity Kuznetsova-Kichigin account at the end of 1920 - 1930. Works of this period, the most rare, most of them are landscapes and genre scenes (festivals, processions, street markets and so on) made watercolors during his travels in China. She has also worked as a portraitist. Great influence on her painting style (the same applies to water color) had a Chinese folk picture with bright color, highlighted the gross color contrasts, but in general, very decorative. In the figure, in contrast, have a strict academic tradition, whose adherents had been her husband - Kichigin. The favorite technique of graphic artist, was sanguine in combination with coal.

Works Kuznetsova-Kichigin are in the largest museums in Russia, including the Pushkin Museum in them. Pushkin State Museum of History. The most representative collection of works by the artist has the Yaroslavl Art Museum.