Soviet Art

USSR Culture

Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin 1859-1930

Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin

The rivals. 1989. The State Tretyakov Gallery. Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin (1859-1930)

Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin

In December 1859, in the house of the philistine engraver Alexei Kasatkin was born a son, called Nikolay. The house stood in a vacant lot, behind a large mansion of a noble man. But the splendorof the mansion only emphasized the poverty, filth and gray dilapidated houses of Grachevka, where the poor settled. The boy grew up recalling pictures of people’s lives from childhood. He recalled gloomy workers, pale faces of working women, heard drunken songs, quarrels of shopkeepers and craftsmen. But it was here, in the line, that he began to love the working people.
The boy started drawing early. His father beautifully reproduced drawings on wood and stone and was in fact, the best engraver in Moscow. In addition, he taught drawing, and little Kolya studied with his students.
Fourteen-year-old Kolya entered the Art School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where his teachers were outstanding artists of Russia V. Perov and A. Savrasov.

Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin

Komsomol girl with books. 1925. Oil on canvas. Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin

In 1989, N.A. Kasatkin exhibited his first paintings at the Association of Mobile Art Exhibitions, and among them was his painting “The Rivals”. The viewer liked all the paintings of Kasatkin, but especially “The Rivals”. After this exhibition Kasatkin became a member of the Association and became closely acquainted with the best people of that time, advanced artists and writers. In particular, Perov, Savrasov, Shchedrin and Dostoevsky, who influenced the worldview of the artist. As a result, he more clearly began to realize that the main hero of art should be a man from the people.

In the corridor of the district court. (1897) Oil on canvas. 100 x 118cm. Sevastopol Art Museum. PM Kroshitsky

Detail of painting by Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin (1859-1930). “In the corridor of the district court”. (1897) Oil on canvas. 100 x 118cm. Sevastopol Art Museum of PM Kroshitsky

He created a lot of paintings, the names of which speak about many things: “Orphaned”, “Alms”, “In the corridor of the district court”? and others. Revolutionaries were well aware of the rebellious spirit of his paintings. For many years Kasatkin traveled annually to the Donbass and other industrial centers of Russia. The result of these trips were numerous paintings in which he with great truthfulness reflected the hard work of miners.

During the first Russian revolution, the artist boldly try new topics. He creates pictures of “The Rising Moscow”, “Calls for Insurrection”, depicting workers with weapons in their hands, fighting for their freedom.

When the October Revolution came, N.A. Kasatkin took it as his own, close to the heart. He creates a series of paintings “Our Soviet Youth” and “Pioneers”.

Summarizing his work, N.A. Kasatkin said: “My work can be called a domestic genre of labor and revolutionary nature. The person is in the center of attention.” And the people appreciated Kasatkin’s high and freedom-loving art. Noteworthy, he was the first in 1923 to be awarded the title of “People’s Artist” of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin

A girl at the fence. 1893

A girl at the fence. 1893

A girl with books

A girl with books

A hundred-year-old man

A hundred-year-old man

A student. 1905

A student. 1905

A wife of a factory worker. 1900

A wife of a factory worker. 1900

At the barrier

At the barrier

At the chapel. 1883

At the chapel. 1883

Cleaning samovar

Cleaning samovar

Hostess

Hostess

In the corridor of the district court. (1897) Oil on canvas. 100 x 118cm. Sevastopol Art Museum. PM Kroshitsky

In the corridor of the district court. (1897) Oil on canvas. 100 x 118cm. Sevastopol Art Museum of PM Kroshitsky

In the worker's family. 1891

In the worker’s family. 1891

Kind old man. 1899

Kind old man. 1899

Man's portrait

Man’s portrait

Married. Paper, pastel, gouache

Married. Paper, pastel, gouache

Miner shift. 1895

Miner shift. 1895

N. Kasatkin (1859-1930) Self-Portrait

N. Kasatkin (1859-1930) Self-Portrait

Draws on the floor. Sketch for the painting 'Wall newspaper' Oil. 1926-1927

Draws on the floor. Sketch for the painting ‘Wall newspaper’ Oil. 1926-1927

Komsomol girl - rabfakovka. Sangina, coal. 1925

Drawing Komsomol girl – rabfakovka. Sangina, coal. 1925

Pioneer with a picture in his hand. Sketch for the painting 'Wall newspaper' Oil. 1927

Pioneer with a picture in his hand. Sketch for the painting ‘Wall newspaper’ Oil. 1927

The banner of the revolution in the strong hands of Komsomol. Oil. 1925

The banner of the revolution in the strong hands of Komsomol. Oil. 1925

Miner woman. Oil, 1894. The State Tretyakov Gallery

Miner woman. Oil, 1894. The State Tretyakov Gallery

Old letters

Old letters

Old woman

Old woman

On the peat bog. Rest (Boy in a pink shirt on a white horse)

On the peat bog. Rest (Boy in a pink shirt on a white horse)

Orphaned. 1891

Orphaned. 1891

Portrait of a girl

Portrait of a girl

Purchasing. 1889

Purchasing. 1889

Quarrel. 1900

Quarrel. 1900

Refugee-Latvian

Refugee-Latvian

Self-portrait

Self-portrait

Settlers

Settlers

Sigida (Crime and punishment). 1930

Sigida (Crime and punishment). 1930

Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin (1859-1930)

Soviet Russian painter Nikolay Kasatkin (1859-1930)