ZARUBIN Viktor Ivanovich

November 13, 1866 (Kharkov) — November 5, 1928

Painter, graphic artist, scene-designer

Viktor Zarubin studied at the faculty of physics and mathematics at Kharkov University (1893). At the same time he was engaged in painting and drawing in the E. E. Shreider’s studio in Kharkov. In 1893–1896 he lived in Paris, where he studied in the Academy of R. Julien under the guidance of T.-R. Fleury and J. Lefebvre. His works were shown at Paris Salon. In 1896–1898 he attended the A. I. Kuindzhi studio at the Higher Art Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (VKhU) under the Imperial Academy of Arts (IAKh). In 1898 he was conferred the title of an artist for his paintings Evening accord and House of God.

Zarubin lived in St. Petersburg (Petrograd, Leningrad). He often traveled to Europe, visited Italy, worked in Normandy.

Viktor Zarubin painted landscapes. He was very impressed by Kuindzhi’s art, later he was interested in impressionism. He followed Russian realistic landscape traditions in his artworks. In 1900s–1910s he worked as a secretary of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts (OPKh); he was a member of the society Myussarovskie Ponedelniki (“Myussar’s Mondays”). In 1909 he was conferred the title of an academician.

During the years of Soviet power, Zarubin was engaged in design and decoration of the revolutionary festive occasions. He also organized the exhibitions of Leningrad painters, illustrated children’s books.

Zarubin participated in the Spring exhibitions in the IAKh. He was a member (since 1916) and exhibitor (since 1918) of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions (TPKhV), member of the Society of Russian Watercolorist, the group Obshchina Khudozhnikov (“Artist Community”; 1921), the Association of the artists of Revolutionary Russia (AKhRR; 1925, 1926), and the A. I. Kuindzhi Society of Artists (1926–1928). His works were shown at the First State Independent Art Exhibition (1919), the Exhibition of works by Petrograd artists of all art movements (1923), the Jubilee Exhibition of Fine Arts (1927), the Jubilee Exhibition of Stage Design (1927) in Petrograd (Leningrad).