KONASHEVICH Vladimir Mikhailovich

April 19, 1988 (Novocherkassk) — February 27, 1963 (Leningrad)

Graphic artist

Vladimir Konashevich was born to a family of engineer. In 1897 his family moved to Chernigov. Konashevich finished non-classical secondary school in Chernigov. There he got his first art education under the guidance of painters I. I. Mikhailov and P. D. Tsyganok. In 1908 Konashevich entered Moscow School of painting, sculpture and architecture (MUZhVZ). Firstly he studied at the faculty of architecture, later — at the faculty of painting, under the guidance of K. A. Korovin, S. V. Malyutin, and L. O. Pasternak. He finished the course in 1914.

Since 1915 Konashevich lived in Petrograd. He together with S. V. Chekhonin and N. A. Tyrsa took part in design (wall-painting) of the Yusupov Palace. In 1916–1919 Konashevich headed the art workshop in the School of folk art.

Since 1922 Konashevich exposed his works at different exhibitions. He was a member of the group Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”). He became good friends with M. V. Dobuzhinsky and D. I. Mitrokhin.

In 1918 Konashevich moved to Pavlovsk. In 1918–1926 he worked as a curator assistant in Pavlovsk Palace Museum. He created museum guides; he also was engaged in restoration work.

In 1920s Konashevich was engaged in book and magazine graphic art. He drew illustrations to the first soviet children magazine Severnoye Siyanie (“The Northern Lights”) edited by Maxim Gorky. Konashevich created caricatures for the magazines ChIZh (“Extremely Interesting Magazine” or “Siskin”), YeZh (“Monthly Magazine” or “Hedgehog”), Veselye Kartinki (“Merry Pictures”), and Murzilka. He collaborated with publishing houses Raduga (“Rainbow”) and Academia. In 1930s Konashevich worked in the department of children’s and youthful literature in the State Publishing House. Konashevich drew several cycles of illustrations for children’s fairy tales Puss in Boots, Little Thumbling, Little Red Riding Hood by Ch. Perrault; The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish by A. S. Pushkin (all — 1922); The Tale of the Foolish Mouse Pup, Fire by S. Y. Marshak (all — 1923). In mid 1920s Konashevich became acquainted with K. I. Chukovsky; he designed a lot of his books: Muha-Cokotuha (“Fly-Tsokotukha”, 1927), The Giant Roach (1929), Wash’em’clean (1938) and others. He also illustrated books by I. S. Turgenev, F. M. Dostoevsky, M. M. Zoshchenko, K. A. Fedin, H. Ch. Andersen, and the Brothers Grimm.

Since 1919 Konashevich was engaged in lithography. From 1921 till 1930 he headed lithograph workshop in Petrograd Higher State Artistic and Technical Workshops (VKhUTEMAS), later — the Higher Art Technical Institute (VKhUTEIN). Konashevich created several cycles of easel lithographs Pavlovsk Park (1921–1923, award of the Monza-Milan exhibition, 1927), The rabble in Pavlovsk, Street (both — 1920s), Leningrad. New landscapes (1917–1932). In 1933–1934 Konashevich worked in the Experimental lithography workshop. There he created illustrations to the novel Manon Lescaut by A. F. Prévost (1931); he was awarded gold medal for this cycle at the World exhibition in Paris in 1937.

Konashevich also worked with other printing techniques of graphics: xylography (late 1920s — 1930s) and engraving (early 1930s). He made woodcuts illustrations to The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich by N. V. Gogol and books of fairy tales by A. S. Pushkin. In 1936 Konashevich was accused of formalism after the article About artists daubers in the newspaper Pravda (“Truth”).

In 1941 Konashevich moved to Leningrad, when fascist army attacked Pavlovsk. In 1944–1948 he taught in the I. E. Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture of the Russia Academy of Fine Arts (IZhSA). In 1945 Konashevich was conferred title of Honoured Art Worker of RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic). After the Great Patriotic War he actively worked as an illustrator. In 1950s–1960s he designed the collection of English songs (silver medal of the International exhibition of book art in Leipzig), books by K. I. Chukovsky, V. I. Dal and many others.

Vladimir Konashevich was a significant master of the soviet graphic art. He was excellent book illustrator, virtuosic lithographer, watercolor painter and graphic artist. He developed his own recognizable style. In his works he continued traditions of the group Mir Iskusstva (“World of Art”). Ornamental, expressive colors and calligraphic detailed drawing were characteristic for his works.

Works by Vladimir Konashevich are in many museum collections, including the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the State Literature Museum and many others.