DARAN (Raizman, Raikhman) Daniil Borisovich

March, 4 (16), 1894 (Voronezh) — June 4, 1964 (Moscow)

Graphic artist, scene-designer

Daniil Daran studied in the Bogolyubov Drawing School in Saratov, under the guidance of P. S. Utkin (1909–1916).

Daran lived in Saratov. Since 1921 he lived in Moscow. He painted landscapes, portraits and genre compositions. He worked in watercolor, ink and etching. Daran created a series of graphic works (watercolor, ink, pen) on themes of Ballet (1920s — early 1960s), Circus (1930s–1950s), Nude (1940s), Sport (1940s–1950s), Towns of Moscow Region (1940s).

Daran was engaged in book graphics and poster art. He worked with the magazines Lapot’ (“Bast Shoe”), Krokodil (“Crocodile”), Bednota (“The Poor”) and with the newspaper Gudok (“Whistle”). He drew book illustrations for the State Publishing House for Literature (Goslitizdat), the publishing house Sovetsky Pisatel (“Soviet Writer”) and others. Daran created designs for editions: Stories (1933), Selected works (1936) by A. M. Gorky; School by A. P. Gaidar (1934); Childhood of Tema, Gymnasium pupils, Students trilogy by N. G. Garin-Mikhailovsky (1936); Zemgano Brothers by E. Goncourt (1934, 1957); Selected poems by A. Isahakyan (1945); Selected works by A. Machado y Riuz (1948); Le Commandant Marceau by J. Laffitte (1955); Thaw by I. G. Ehrenburg (1956); On a visit to youth by S. G. Gekht (1960); My dream is circus by V. M. and V. A. Zverevs (1964) and others.

Since 1917 Daran participated in many exhibitions. He was a member of the group Trinadtsat (“Thirteen”, 1929–1931). His works were exposed at the exhibitions of the Association of Graphic Artists under the House of Press (the 1st, 2nd, 3rd exhibitions of graphic art; in 1926, 1927, 1928), the Exhibition of acquisitions of state commission of acquisitions of works of fine art for 1928–1929 (1930), the exhibition Artists of the RSFSR for 15 years (1933–1934), the exhibition Soviet illustration in belletristic literature for five years. 1931–1936 (1936), the Exhibition of Etching. 1934–1944 (1944), the Exhibition of watercolors and ceramics by Soviet painters (1960), the exhibition Physical culture and sport in art in Moscow (1962), the Second traveling art exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Sverdlovsk and other cities (1930). Daran took part in different foreign exhibitions, in particular the exhibitions of Soviet art in London (1930), in Zurich, in Johannesburg (both — 1931), in Konigsberg (1932) and others. The personal exhibitions of the artist were held in Moscow in 1946, 1962 and 1964.  

Daran taught in the art studio Krasny Luch (“Red Ray”) under Mosenergo (Moscow Energy Company) in 1923, 1950–1955, and in Kazan Art School.

Works by Daniil Daran are in many museum collections, including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the State Russian Museum and others.