Soviet artist Shcherbakov Boris: biography and creativity

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

In this article we will tell about the outstanding artist Shcherbakov Boris Valentinovich, whose works left an indelible mark on the history of the Soviet Union. He lived a difficult, long, but such a happy life, rich in historical twists and turns, full of fruitful work. His creative heritage can be found in countries near and far abroad. His paintings amaze with their beauty, realism, imbued with love for their homeland. They inspire and, most importantly, make you proud of your country and those people who sang of its beauties. So, your attention is invited to the story of the life and work of the artist Shcherbakov.

Young years

Boris Shcherbakov was born in 1916, April 7, in Petrograd, in the family of the artist Valentin Semenovich Shcherbakov, who studied with Repin himself and graduated from the Academy of Arts in 1909. But fate abandoned the young family fromhungry Petersburg to Kazan, where the artist spent his childhood. Shcherbakov began to show his talent quite early. The father jokingly gave the work of his four-year-old son to futurist exhibitions, and they were accepted. The family returned to Petersburg. Boris, wishing to be like his father in everything, picks up brushes. The artist's father at that time worked at the Leningrad Porcelain Factory. Lomonosov and, seeing the artistic abilities of his son, began to educate him.

The beginning of the creative path

After graduating from high school, Boris Shcherbakov became a student at the Academy of Arts in 1933 in Leningrad. These were the times when young people sought to master the skills of realistic art. The young novice artist Boris Shcherbakov studied with pleasure on the works of the old school masters, which found a place in his works. Boris Shcherbakov's still lifes can serve as an example of them. The artist, with his skill and technique, never ceases to inspire and amaze the modern connoisseur of art. In 1939 Shcherbakov graduated from the Academy of Arts. A sharp turn in the history of the country opened up many ideas for him to recreate paintings, but the Second World War burst into the fate of the young artist, as well as the whole country.

War period

During the war, Shcherbakov was the commander of a sapper platoon, which participated in the preparation of the defense of Moscow before the onset of the Nazi invaders. Later, front-line sketches formed the basis of the painting Groupportrait of the heroes of the Soviet Union. A series of drawings was collected by Shcherbakov during the war on the Western, Leningrad and B altic fronts. After demobilization, Shcherbakov remains in Moscow and continues to implement his creative ideas.

The beginning of a long journey in peacetime

In 1946, at the exhibition, the artist Shcherbakov exhibited one of the most significant and famous works, written by him in 1945, a significant year for the country. It was the picture "Peter I receives ambassadors in the forge." The post-war period in the biography of the artist Boris Shcherbakov was a portrait period. In the works of the master of that difficult period of restoration were war heroes, scientists, artists. For his contribution to the development of art in 1952, Shcherbakov was awarded the State Prize of the USSR. In 1956, Shcherbakov and a group of artists worked in the GDR to create copies of the paintings we returned from the Dresden Gallery. The result of the trip was the first personal exhibition, which took place first in Dresden, and then in Moscow. It was called "Cities and people of the GDR".

Unique landscapes of Moldova

Most of all, the artist liked to paint landscapes, perhaps, this became the main theme in the work of the artist Shcherbakov. Furiously loving not only art, but also the history of his country, Boris Shcherbakov was a passionate admirer of poetry. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin was a favorite poet, to whom the artist dedicated more than one of his works. This is Pushkin in St. Petersburg, Pushkin in Mikhailovsky, Oak of Solitude. All this became a prerequisite for a trip to the places of Pushkin's exile. So there wasa series of landscapes dedicated to the beauty of the expanses of Moldova. Each work is unique in its individuality. The landscapes of the artist Shcherbakov are characterized by a panoramic image, which allows you to better see the beauty of nature. In 1970, a personal exhibition of the artist took place in Chisinau.

The beauty and history of the native land

Shcherbakov loved the history of his country, quite often his works are connected with historical places. He wrote poetry himself, listened to classical music. More than twenty years of work were devoted to landscapes, of which there were more than three hundred. Shcherbakov was inspired by the expanses of his native suburbs; A series of paintings was dedicated to the Volga River. A portrait series of Russian writers was painted. In addition to Pushkin, a portrait of Leo Tolstoy was painted on the banks of the Voronka River in Yasnaya Polyana, Turgenev, Lermontov. The artist traveled to Lermontov places with particular interest. He visited Tarkhany, beloved by Lermontov, in the estate of the poet's grandmother E. A. Arsent'eva, where the ashes of the poet are now buried in the chapel. With love, the artist depicted a one-story house on a quiet street in Taganrog, where the first works of Chekhov were born.

Creativity of Sholokhov was dedicated to a large series of landscapes. The artist managed to make friends with Sholokhov, who was always stingy with praise, but, looking at Shcherbakov’s paintings, exclaimed: “Just great, thank you very much!” The peculiar and majestic beauty of the Don region struck the artist to the core. In the future, these works will be presented at solo exhibitions abroad.

Global recognition

The end of the 70s and 80s of the last century were an exhibition period for B. Shcherbakov. The artist held four solo exhibitions in Japan on the theme "Across Memorable Literary Places". In May 1977, an exhibition of Shcherbakov's paintings "Russian Landscapes" was held in New York, where he received excellent reviews. People came out after viewing the pictures with enlightened faces, with kind smiles. "Wonderful Russian!" - so exclaimed laconic Americans. Currently, the artist's works are scattered around the world, some of them can be seen in the White House, in the US Congress, in the family of British monks. Exhibitions of the artist Shcherbakov were held in the GDR, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and aroused great interest. The paintings amazed the audience with their beauty and realism; the skill of the artist was inspiring. For Boris Valentinovich, these exhibitions were a real test, because people of different cultures, races and nations expressed their opinion. Thanks to the art of a brilliant master, people from different countries united. Every person from any corner of the globe understood the skill of the artist. For a long time they stood near each picture of the master, whether it was Japan or Hungary; people were understandable and close to the theme of the beauty of nature. After the exhibitions, each of them took a piece of beauty and warmth into their hearts after communicating with art.

Contemplating the beautiful, people learn to understand themselves. Shcherbakov's landscapes are not only art, they are a kind of message to people of the present and future. This is a way to convey to them not only the beauty of nature,that surrounds them is a way to show them the beauty of the world on earth, to demonstrate what people own and what they need to preserve for future generations.

Prizes and awards

During his lifetime, the artist's work was highly valued and was repeatedly awarded with awards and prizes. Since 1973, he has been a corresponding member of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union, the highest scientific institution of which united artists. In 1986, Shcherbakov received the honorary title of People's Artist of the USSR for outstanding figures in the fine arts. He was awarded for special merits in the development of painting. In 1992, Shcherbakov received the title of Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts (RAKh).

Boris Valentinovich died on July 25, 1995 in Moscow. He was buried at the Vagankovsky cemetery, next to the grave of his father.

Conclusion

In conclusion, summing up what has been said, I would like to note the outstanding services to the Fatherland of the artist Shcherbakov. His creativity, life values, true love for the Motherland and a huge contribution to the development of art make him a man of incredible fortitude, put him on a par with the outstanding figures of his time. The inner world of the artist was as beautiful and pure as his canvases. He awakened people to see beauty in this world. As you know, the cultural and spiritual development of a person forms a society, makes it civilized. Listen to the sensations that are born inside you when you look at works of art, such as paintings by Boris Shcherbakov. Suchpeople seem to us as guides not only to the world of beauty, but also to the world of friendship, love and mutual understanding.