Zhukov Nikolai Nikolaevich: biography, personal life, creativity, photo

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov is a well-known Soviet artist who worked in the genre of poster painting, easel portrait, color and black-and-white graphics. It was Zhukov who created many memorable designs of the Soviet era - the artist created a picture for the Kazbek cigarettes, as well as many famous posters of the war years, such as "The enemy will not pass!", "Help" and many others. The master also made a significant contribution to the art of peacetime, illustrating children's books and fashion magazines.

The merits of the legendary Soviet artist Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov were highly appreciated by the Soviet government: the master received prestigious state awards more than once, twice becoming a laureate of the Stalin Prize, during his lifetime he received the title of "People's Artist of the RSFSR" and "People's Artist of the USSR".

Biography

Nikolay Zhukovwas born on November 19, 1908 in the city of Moscow. His father worked as a lawyer in the civil service. When the future artist was eight years old, his father moved the family to Yelets, where he found a better paying job by opening a private law practice. Despite a fairly good salary, it was difficult for the family to survive in these troubled years for the history of Russia. The father was preparing his son for a career as an officer, which could provide the boy with a good future, but little Nikolai had no predisposition to military affairs, devoting all his free time to drawing. The boy had amazing abilities and learned to draw on his own, without the help of teachers or older peers.

Later, when the fire of the world revolution breaks out in 1917, Nikolai's skills will be very useful to a starving family. The young breadwinner tirelessly painted portraits to order, playing cards and postcards, purchasing food and necessary things for the family with the proceeds.

Early years

Firmly deciding to become an artist, Nikolai enters the Nizhny Novgorod Art and Industrial College, which he graduates ahead of schedule with honors, immediately submitting documents to the Saratov Art College. A. P. Bogolyubova. Inborn talent, the ability to grasp everything on the fly and a predisposition to hard work allow Nikolai to achieve tremendous success in his chosen field.

The paintings of the artist Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov, painted by him while studying at a technical school, repeatedly took first place instudent and youth exhibitions of proletarian art.

In 1930, Zhukov went into the army for military service. After distribution, the artist was sent to the Caucasus, to the mountain artillery. Having finished his service, he voluntarily became the commander of an artillery battery, remaining in the ranks of the Red Army.

Illustrator

Demobilized two years later, Zhukov moves to live and work in Moscow, where he receives a large number of orders thanks to the patronage of his old friend Sergei Sakharov.

A hard-working guy becomes an illustrator of products from several metropolitan printing houses at once, tirelessly fulfilling orders, creating designs for candy wrappers, magazine covers, illustrations for books and other printed publications.

Soon the artist was noticed by the editorial board of the elite magazines Sovietland and Soviet Travel, which were produced specifically for export abroad, and from 1933 to 1934 Nikolai was on the official staff of the designers of these publications, having managed to illustrate many articles and create a large number of covers.

Since 1932, the biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov has changed dramatically for the better: the artist is hired permanently by the country's most famous literary publishing house, Profizdat, where the young man works under the strict guidance of N. A. Mikhailov.

War years

The beginning of the war found the artist in Moscow. Despite the importance of his artistic craft, Zhukov decides to volunteer for the front. Once in the infantry troops, he not only did notleaves his passion, but also creates a huge number of sketches of scenes of military operations, soldier's life, draws portraits of many military men who later became heroes of the Soviet Union, as well as ordinary soldiers. The work of Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov warmed the artist himself and his brother-soldiers during the harsh war years. The master's works were regularly published in the military newspaper "To defeat the enemy" and very quickly gained popularity in the ranks of the Soviet army.

Campaign work

Zhukov quickly secured the title of one of the best agitators by creating a large number of motivating posters during the war years. The well-recognized style of the artist could not leave the audience indifferent. Inspired by the works of Nikolai, Soviet soldiers took on new frontiers, moving further and further beyond the West.

It was Nikolai Nikolayevich Zhukov who created some of the most recognizable, legendary posters of the Great Patriotic War: “We will defend Moscow!”, “Stand!”, “Beat to death!”, “To the West!” and many more.

A common feature for all the artist's works is the image of a Russian soldier-avenger, a hero-soldier who, sparing no effort, defends his native land from Nazi invaders.

The artist's works acquire all-Union significance and recognition after their publication in the Pravda newspaper. Not only fame comes to Zhukov, but also new instructions from the government. In 1945 he was sent to the Nuremberg trials as a war correspondent, from where he returneda month and a half later with more material.

Graphics

At the end of the thirties, the artist begins a series of graphic sketches dedicated to the images of children. Many of the works created at that time became illustrations for various books or magazine articles. The artist is interested not only in the physical image of the child itself, but also in its psychological component, Zhukov is interested in observing the projection of an adult in a small person, the process of character formation.

The theme of childhood and the life of a child becomes one of the cornerstones in the creative concept of Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov. The artist remains true to the chosen theme, each time illustrating children's books with enthusiasm and creating more and more portraits of "little people with big hearts".

Most of the works of this period, the master creates from nature, often watching the neighboring kids playing while relaxing in the country.

Art Style

One of the criteria for the creative work of Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov was the technical perfection of the work. The master paid great attention to the careful drawing of even the most insignificant details of the work, trying to make the work of art look as realistic as possible.

The artist did not prioritize the theme of the work, and he fulfilled any order with high quality. That is why the paintings of Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov are sharply distinguished by their amazing quality, even if it is just a sketch for the design of a candy wrapper or a pack.cigarette.

The master actively used a rich technical arsenal, never giving preference to any one tool in his artistic activity. Wide and narrow brushes, tempera, spray gun, oil paints, crayons, charcoal, graphite, gold, bronze, gouache: the artist used absolutely any means of self-expression, each time finding some special technique for conveying emotions and the atmosphere of what was happening.

Also in Zhukov's works, the position of vertical elements is extremely important, due to the inclined position of which the master successfully conveyed the dynamism of the plot. The artist's works turned out to be bright and as if striving forward. This feeling arises in the viewer precisely because of the unique technique of depicting oblong figures created by the master.

Exhibitions

In the early thirties, Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov, whose photo appeared more than once in newspapers on the second pages, began to actively organize his own exhibitions. With the support of the USSR Academy of Arts, the master repeatedly exhibited his paintings in many cities of Russia, Germany, China, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Italy and France.

Art critics and art historians around the world noted the uniqueness and originality of Zhukov's works, as well as their incredible importance in the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.

Government Awards

The personal life of Nikolai Nikolaevich Zhukov remained in the shadows, giving way to public andcultural activities. In addition to the awards received during the war, the artist has repeatedly received a large number of prizes and encouragement from both world art unions and from the government of the USSR.

Nikolai Zhukov twice won the Stalin Prize for "truthful depiction of the life of the Soviet people during the war" and "creation of campaign materials during the war".

In 1971, the master was awarded the Gold Medal of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union. Colleagues recognized Zhukov's invaluable contribution to the restoration of the Borodino panorama, as well as the creation of an art gallery of portraits of participants in the revolutionary movements of the world.

The following year, Nikolai Nikolaevich became the bearer of the title "Honorary Citizen of the City of Yelets". Despite constant traveling, Zhukov was very fond of this provincial town and lived and worked in it for a long time. Today there is a house-museum to them. N. N. Zhukova.