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.