Exhibition for the 125th anniversary of one of the most prominent artists of the early XX century, includes about 150 paintings and graphic works from the museums of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the provinces, the Russian and foreign private collections and

THG, September 13 - November 13, 2011

today at the State Tretyakov Gallery (Corps of Engineers , Lavrushinsky lane, 12) opens the exhibition of one of the most prominent artists of the early XX century Boris Dmitrievich Grigoriev (1886 - 1939), timed to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the master. A kind of chronicler of his time, careful and ruthless to him, Gregory was far from the idealization of nature. In the acute, sometimes grotesque manner, he painted portraits of famous contemporaries: Chaliapin (1918), Gorky (1926), N. Remizov (1932-1933), as well as numerous unnamed character-types from everyday life that he gave apt title-labels "a man with a beard", "zhigan and prostitute", "oyster pickers", "concierge", "Marseille whore».

Boris Grigoriev Fair piece Gengane Brittany. 1914 Oil on canvas. 53.2 x 53. THG Source: Press TG-release

Boris Grigoriev The old thrush From the "race". 1917 Oil on canvas. 62 x 70.5. TG Source: Press Release TG

Biography BD Grigoriev conditionally fit in between the two world wars, when one after another in the art of appearing bright artistic trends. Boris Grigoriev did not identify themselves through membership in some "ism", it was rather a solitary artist.

debut BD Grigoriev at the show in 1913, forced to speak of him as a brilliant draftsman. In the mid-1910s the artist was seen as continuing the tradition of modernity of St. Petersburg - more precisely, the society "World of Art", with its cosmopolitan spirit, enthusiasm retrospective motives theatricality, irony and a penchant for the game. Stage effect, "staging" present in his famous "Portrait of Meyerhold" (1916).

since 1916 in the painting BD Grigoriev enhanced neoclassical features, portrait characteristics become more strict and sober. In "Portrait of Fyodor Chaliapin" (1918) image of the great singer is devoid of any hint of idealization, and the scale of the individual is transferred exaggerated, sculpted stucco forms.

In 1917-1918 B. Grigoriev is experiencing a period of highest pitch. It creates two paintings and graphic cycle - «Intimité» and 'race', which became both the peak of his creativity, and most controversial, even shocking creations of his talent.

Boris Grigoriev Pub. Paris. Cabaret Paper. THG Source: Press Release TG

Boris Grigoriev In a Paris café. 1891-1910 Cardboard, gouache, pastel. 44,5 x 63. TG Source: Press Release TG

«Intimité» - exposing the myth of lovely lady praised by the art of the Silver Age, a frank tale about a modern woman living in a world of coarse instincts, greed and indifference. The eroticism inherent in the era, gets new here, and sometimes ominous.

Even more unexpected and daring appeared in the 1918 cycle "race" - an epic wide and at the same time live-documented image of Russian village. In the painting "Peasant Land" (1917) turned to the viewer face full of deaf peasant hatred simmering discontent, ready to pour out a desperate, unpredictable effects. Cold, hammered the plastic language reinforces the tragic expression of images. The cycle of "race" gave rise to contemporaries compare BD Grigoriev Dostoyevsky than a lot of artist proud. It is possible that "race" has produced a shock in 1918, also because it draws a line under the XIX century, which was marked by a Utopian belief in a particular social and religious truth of the people, and the beginning of the twentieth century in this "truth" little faith. < /p>

Both series were published in the form of original publications - albums that will be presented at the exhibition, with texts of the artist and professional writers. In addition, these BD Grigoriev gave vent to his addiction to the art of words: we know that he was the author of the novel "The young Rays" (1912), wrote poetry, acted in the press with critical essays.

Boris Grigoriev Concierge. 1918 Oil on canvas. 70.8 x 62.3. THG Source: Press Release TG

Boris Grigoriev Sappho. Mask. 1891-1910 Graphite and black pencil. 48,5 x 32. TG Source: Press Release TG

In 1919, B. D. Grigoriev left Russia and settled first in Berlin and then in Paris. His emigre fate went well: personal exhibition held in Paris, Milan, Prague, New York, where Grigoriev as a portraitist was a great success. He has twice traveled to South America, and ended his days in the town of Cagnes-sur-Mer on the Cote d'Azur. During these years, BD Grigoriev particularly worried uniqueness of different national character and sense of self. In Brittany, Provence, Italy, he notices especially appearance, mental warehouse, living inhabitants of these places, and in his work there succinct portrait-types: "A woman from Bourg de Batts" (c. 1925), "Poverty" (1925). "My gardener" (mid 1920s) in his last year he wrote a terrible symbolic "German butcher. Face of Germany "(1938).

But Russia would not let BD Grigoriev. Her images, memories are transformed into "Faces of Russia" in the same cycle (1921-1923), in "The Portrait of Maxim Gorky" (1926), they pass in front of a string of a writer, stirring his imagination. The artist had hoped to return to Russia, but, in his words, "like a son, stepson and not».

In recent years, B. D. Grigoriev, admitted that he tired of being a "witness against". In "Portrait of Rachmaninov" (1930), the film "Cellist" (1938), and other artist contrasted disasters the modern world the creative energy of artists. Harmony breathe his landscapes of the 1930s - the types of South America, where neo-classical austerity gave way to a beautiful freedom.

exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery is a continuation of the Russian Museum and includes about 150 works from museums in Moscow , St. Petersburg and the provinces, the Russian and foreign private collections and galleries. In addition to paintings and drawings, the exhibit will include letters Grigorieva, stored in the Department of Manuscripts and rare editions of his works from the library of the Tretyakov Gallery.

Source : Press Release TG