The exhibition "Woman" at the Museum of Russian impressionism will present more than 40 portraits of sweethearts of the great Russian artists — Ilya Repin, Valentin Serov, Boris Kustodiev and others.

the Museum of Russian impressionism
1 Feb — may 15 2018
Moscow, Leningradsky Prospekt, 15, p. 11

Julia Evstafevna, the artist's wife by Boris Kustodiev, sitting in the hospital corridor. Operating out of a Professor and reports confirmed the tumor to the spinal cord, but to reach it, you need to cut the nerve endings. The patient is unconscious, so you decide what to keep him hands or feet. She already lost her youngest son's mother and now losing her husband, that sweet, soft friend and adviser pleads: "Hands leave hands! Artist — no hands! He can not live..."The next 11 years of his life an outstanding master Boris Kustodiev will be in a wheelchair, but it was during this period he will create the brightest and most Mature work.

All know the names of prominent artists, but what is known about their loved one? Who are these women, how they inspired their men, or were indifferent to them as I build a career and become famous Actresses or dissolved in his companions, and sacrificed many for the sake of family happiness. Diverse, dissimilar, they are United by only one thing: they are all — wife.

From February 1 to may 15 the Museum of Russian impressionism will present the exhibition "WIFE", which will include more than 40 portraits of sweethearts of the great Russian artists. Among them Ilya Repin, Mikhail Vrubel, Valentin Serov, Boris Kustodiev, Igor Grabar, Pyotr Konchalovsky, Boris Grigoriev, Kuzma Petrov-Водкин, Alexander Deineka, Robert Falk, Konstantin Yuon, Sergey Sudeikin, Yuri Pimenov and many others.

• Boris KUSTODIEV portrait of the wife with her daughter Irina
  GTG
  Source: rusimp.su
• Valentin SEROV Portrait of O. Trubnikova. 1885
  GTG
  Source: rusimp.su

This exhibition aims to show the development of Russian art in the period from late XIX to mid XX century through the prism of portraits of the wives of the great masters. Art changes undergone female portrait at the turn of the century, largely based on the social and political turmoil of this difficult time. From classic images, gravitating toward the decoration and glorification of femininity, through the scrapping of the artistic foundations of Russian art comes to the new Amazon — Soviet women. Of beautiful women in corsets, furs and silks, touching and captivating in its simplicity homemakers appear in portraits of the late nineteenth century. They are replaced by resolute revolutionaries, women with direct attitudes and abrupt u-turn shoulders — they are building a new world on a par with men.

• Ilya REPIN Portrait of N. B. Nordman-Северовой. 1909
  Novgorod Museum.
  Source: rusimp.su
• Fedot SYCHKOV Portrait of L. V. Sychkovo, wife of the Artist. 1903
  Source: rusimp.su

Visitors will meet with a variety of female images, among which the portrait of a faithful companion Valentina Serova Olga Trubnikova totally devoted to her husband and gave him six children. Konstantin Korovin, the best friend of the artist, was fascinated by this woman and if possible, bestowed her treasures with sapphires and pearls, scolding Serov that he does not buy Olga Feodorovna of jewelry.

However, for many wives were real music. For example, portrait of the wife of Kuzma Petrov-Водкина, who came to the Museum from Tallinn, conveys the image of a gentle sweetheart of the artist. They were connected for more than 30 years touching relationship. Petrov-Водкин met his future wife Marie-Жозефину in the suburbs of Paris. The artist was fascinated by the daughter of the landlady, asked for permission to paint her portrait (the one that will be on show), and after a while it here at work, made her an offer. Mara will be a faithful companion for life, and after his death, publish a book of memoirs "My Russian husband."

Another famous master Mikhail Vrubel, the wife was an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Artistic images of outstanding Opera singer, pet Savva Mamontov Hopes Zabela-Врубель appeared in the works of the artist. One such example — majolica "girl in a wreath" of Abramtsevo.

Another Muse, silent film actress Vera sudeikina, the second wife of Sergey Sudeykin, even made the list of "Duties of the artist's wife", where it is said: "to Be the physical ideal, and therefore to be his eternal model". The exhibition presents the remarkable work of the artist — "My life", which depicts his two wives, his lover and perhaps a few beloved first wife. Some of the characters are recognizable in "Poem without a hero" by Anna Akhmatova.

stands Out from the slim number of graceful muses extravagant writer and fighter for women's rights Natalia Nordman-Северова, the wife of Ilya Repin. Her portraits and nature with a bold and eccentric. Friends of the artist noted that Natalie got strange rules in their house in "Penaty": the servants dined at one table with the owner, was self-made, what offers were reported on a special sign "the Maid — shame of mankind", but most importantly — burgers were served from the hay, and the steaks were prepared from cranberries. Convinced vegetarian and animal advocate, Nordman-Северова even in winter wore no coat, thin coat, with the same hay under lining — for warmth. Korney Chukovsky was protecting Natalya Borisovna from the attacks of the wits said that the basis of her "eccentricities" is a sincere concern for the husband.

Such free-thinking at that time was not uncommon. The end of XIX and beginning of XX century marked the development of the idea of equality, and after the revolution, a woman not fall in line with a man. This changing role of women in society is reflected in art. Portrait of the wife of Nikolai Ionin, a pupil of Kuzma Petrov-Водкина, "Woman in red" is a vivid example. Catherine Samokhvalova-Ионина was the sister of the famous Soviet artist Alexander Samokhvalov. Close communication with the master has allowed Ionio become one of the pioneers in creating the image of Soviet women, the specific and distinctive symbol of the era, subsequently reprinted in the form of numerous "workers" and "athletes" on the posters. As the ideal woman of the era of socialism, the "Sportwoman", which punishes "work, build and not whine!"depicts his first wife Alexander Deineka. Strict and strong, she embodies the image of Soviet women are able along with a man to build a new world.

it is worth noting another job — sculptural portrait of Margarita Konenkova, the wife ofSoviet sculptor Sergey Konenkov, the right to receive the title of "the Russian Rodin". Delicate, sensual image entitled "Spring", for which his wife posed, not linked with the history of the Soviet scout. Before meeting with a famous sculptor she attributed novels with Feodor Chaliapin and Sergei Rachmaninoff, and after her marriage and moving to the USA, where Konenkova delayed for 20 years, she will become the mistress of Einstein and through him, meet Oppenheimer and the circle of physicists. Say, largely thanks to its work, the Soviet government received valuable information about the us atomic bomb.

Especially for the exhibition the main collection of the Museum was supplemented by the work of sculptor Paul (Paolo) troubetzkoy "Mother and child", which depicts his wife, Elin sundström.

• Robert FALK Lisa in the sun. 1907
  GMII RT
  Source: rusimp.su
• Igor GRABAR Cornflowers. 1914
  Art-Фонд Filatov
  Source: rusimp.su

• Alexander RODCHENKO Portrait of Varvara Stepanova. The enchanted page. 1915
  the Pushkin Museum. Alexander Pushkin
  Source: rusimp.su
• Alexander Tyshler Portrait of his wife. 1926
  smfa
  Source: rusimp.su

the exhibition will be published an illustrated catalog, which for the first time will bring together under one cover a few dozen portraits and personal stories of the wives of Russian artists.

So that you can fully appreciate the beauty of painting and immerse yourself in the plot, we added leaf clean scent. The smell of the sea, storm, garden after rain, or the flowers of the field? All this awaits you in the exhibition halls.

during the exhibition period will operate a free audio guide recorded by a friend of the Museum, an actor and the main speaker of the country Sergey Chonishvili. Audio guide is available in the mobile app of the Museum of Russian impressionism.

Source: rusimp.su