Mikhail Ksenofontovitch Sokolov
(1886 - 1947) |
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Portraiture, Landscapes, Illustrations Art Work
| Name: |
Mikhail Ksenofontovitch Sokolov |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Place of Birth: |
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| Nationality: |
Russian |
| Birth: |
1886 |
| Death: |
1947 |
| Website: |
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| Past Auctions: |
Click Here |
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Quick Facts
| Known For: |
Portraiture, Landscapes, Illustrations |
| Medium: |
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| Method: |
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| Style: |
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| Fine Art Profession(s): |
Painter
Graphic artist
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Biography
| SOKOLOV MIKHAIL KSENOFONTOVITCH's images appeared as a result of a complicated synthesis of multifaceted reflections of arts and literature of former centuries, enriched by impressions from real life. His sharp dramatic perception and experience was embodied in the series of drawings "Passions" from 20ies (sanguine, coal). The birth of his rich series "Beautiful Ladies" was caused by his effort to perceive enigmatic female nature, his search of some unachievable ideal - rather than beauty as such. He often appealed to literature in his creative work. However, his graphical series "To Dickens", "To Tolstoy", after works by Shakespeare, M. Reed, L. Tolstoy, A. Pushkin cannot be considered as usual book illustrations. They are not a direct mirroring of the content; they do not follow the subject strictly. His illustration series are discernible images of impressions acquired through reading, often - free improvisations on a theme: foggy London streets, where Dickens's characters moon along; sharp, as if heart-felt from inside, phantasmagoric world of Hoffmann; pathetic in his sufferings and simultaneously so exquisite Hamlet by Shakespeare. Every time, the artist finds a new intuitive solution. He made illustrations "for heart", not on order. His only published work was the series of illustrations to "The Orlean Virgin" by Voltaire ("Academia", 1935). The experience of work with a publisher did not satisfy the artist. "I do not like whatever compromises, the more in art where they are a grave crime" Freedom was a pre-condition of his creative activity, he did not accept any reglamentation both in life and in art. In 1938 - 1943, he was illegally repressed. Deprived of normal life, friends, contacts, he still worked as an artist. On paper scraps of a matchbox size, using the most primitive tools, - pencil, ink, chalk - he produced unique miniatures and mailed them to his friends, calling them "trifles". "The dark nightmare around me cannot kill the image of the Beautiful Dame, my trifles are tiny illustrations of it". In this way, his series "Secret" and other, of miniature illustrations, were created. In 1945, he returned to Moscow. His works can be seen at the State Tretyakov Gallery, State Russian Museum, State Museum of the History of Arts, Yaroslavl Museum (a substantial part of his legacy - over 3000 works), Literature Museums in Moscow and Petersburg, private collections etc. |
Samples of Work
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