Artist Somov Konstantin Andreevich: biography, creativity

When, suddenly, involuntarily, Somov's artist emerges in his memory, a poetic portrait of a sad girl also appears nearby. For the author of the article he is a visiting card of the painter. From it and begin the review.

Portrait of Elizaveta Mikhailovna Martynova

Later, when the portrait is in the State Tretyakov Gallery, he will be shortly called "Lady in Blue". By this time, when the portrait was painted, that is, in 1897-1900, the painter found his own way in art and was confident in his abilities. In this poetic image a new image of the perfect femininity, its top, is created which is not at all combined with the gray routine or everyday bustle.

In the foreground of the conditional park, near a luxuriantly growing bush with touched wilted leaves stands a young woman in old lace of a strongly decollete dress from faded blue moire. It is inspired by a tragedy unknown to us, which has broken it. Her hand with a volume of poetry is powerlessly omitted. The woman's left hand is helplessly raised to her chest. She is lonely and longing. "The lady in blue" is fragile, pale and lean. A painful blush covers her cheeks. Despite the stylization of the costume, it is perceived as a modern man, whose spiritual world is complicated. The figure of the model with a thin neck, sloping shoulders acquires a special grace against the background of the thickened evening and the gray clouds running across the sky. Why does she have such a painful longing, deep sadness in her eyes, sorrow in tender, unsmiling lips? The future artist Martynova was known to everyone as a cheerful and cheerful person. The artist Somov was able to see beyond the outer inner. Four years after writing the portrait, Elizaveta Mikhailovna will die of tuberculosis.

The fineness of the model is beautifully transferred to the picturesque means: the finest colorful nuances appear thanks to the glaze, the bluish shadows that are laid on the face and open shoulders are transparent.

Genre scene in the background and a dense bush even more separates the "Beautiful Lady" from the world.

Early life of the painter

We will briefly outline his life's path. Somov Konstantin Andreevich (1869-1939) was born in St. Petersburg in the family of the curator of the Hermitage, Ivan Andreevich and Nadezhda Konstantinovna Somov. His mother was an educated man and a wonderful musician. In the creative environment, two sons grew up: Vladimir and Constantine - and daughter Anna. K. Somov studied at the gymnasium of K. May, where the basis was a benevolent atmosphere. He did not graduate from this educational institution, because he did not give natural subjects. In the gymnasium, he met V. Nouvel, D. Philosofov, A. Benois. The latter in every way supported the flourishing talent and helped the unsure young Somov to believe in himself.

Becoming an Artist

For four years the future Russian painter comprehended the basics of drawing and color in the Academy, and then continued his studies with Repin. He was not satisfied with the images of the Wanderers, since on the scrapping of the epochs he saw nothing new in them: all the same democracy and social enlightenment. Reality pushed him away. Somov immersed himself in the rococo atmosphere of the 18th century, the music of Gluck and Mozart, into languid gavots and minuets, memoirs, poetry and prose of that time. The sources of inspiration for him were old albums, in the pages of which he found characteristic visual signs of postures, gaits, gestures, costumes, hairstyles. I wanted to become an artist. This artistic language could open the soul of modern man. That period of time can not be called puritanical. An example is placed above: "Silhouette. Kiss ", which in a slightly different version will later be included in the" Book of the Marquis ".

Paris of the late XIX century

For 97-98 years, the artist Somov lived and studied in Paris. He was carried away by the art of Watteau, Larzhiler, Fragonard and the modern Pre-Raphaelites: O. Beardsley and D. Whitler. It was an esthete to the tips of the fingernails. Together with Benoit, he was looking for second-hand pictures from second-hand booksellers, depicting absurdities and oddities. He, like all the symbolists, was afraid to seem ridiculous with his ladies and gentlemen, the Harlequins, the Colombines, Pierrot, and covered himself with a mask of irony.

Return to Russia

In 1899, K. Somov returned as a formed artist to St. Petersburg and completed the portrait of EM Martynova described above. Continuing the theme of femininity, Konstantin Somov paintings fill with erotic: "Echo past time", "Lady in a pink dress", "Sleeping woman in a blue dress", "Sorceress", "Colombina". He leaves no room for covetousness and pretense, and demonstrates not the best, but the fatal qualities of women, their false and destructive side. Paraphrasing the criticism of his time, we can say that the artist Somov from Madonna created Eve-temptress.

Harmony in creativity

Landscapes, written from nature, are always the exact opposite of its conventional masquerade and puppet characters. He searches and transfers to the canvas all the most fragile and elusive: the ghostly light of the white nights, the glare of the sun on the gentle grass. Thus appeared in 1919 a masterpiece written by Konstantin Somov, the "Rainbow". This year is terrible for the country, and the landscape is serene, filled with peace and radiant light. After the storm, the sun peered out from behind the clouds, all flooded with its rays, and a rainbow appeared. She admires the women under the umbrellas: from the birches at the slightest breeze of the wind still rain drops. The whiteness of the trunks, the lacy foliage of foliage and leaves, the bright fresh green of the young grass washed with rain, the freedom and small bushes fascinate the viewer.

Gallant scenes

The theatrical painting painted by Konstantin Somov, "The Harlequin and the Lady," introduces us into the world of conventions, where feelings hide behind a mask. Yes, are they? Is not this a game of love? Fleeting passion, coquetry, when it is necessary to fall in love easily and beautifully, without touching the depths of the soul, today in one, and tomorrow - in another. The lady and the gentleman stroll in the depths of the alley, but their counterpart - Harlequin and Colombina, who are just cardboard dolls - come to the fore. The artist uses gouache and watercolor, then saturating the picture, then masterly making it transparent. It is filled with magic and acrid irony over the cutesy manners. The theater scenery that surrounds the heroes is exquisite: hanging branches create an arch, in the night fantastic firework lights flash. Next to the Harlequin, who opened his face, removing the mask, there is a basket with artificial flowers. The whole work is very impressive thanks to the contrasting colors, the play of lights, the refinement of the toilets.

Homosexual

Now this is not surprising. But we will not delve into the piquant details of the artist's life. Let's just say that in his life there were hobbies, and a strong passionate love for Methodius Georgievich Lukyanov, who later fell ill and slowly died of tuberculosis. He died in Paris in 32nd year. One of the hobbies was Mikhail Kuzmin. At the time of his acquaintance with Somov, he made his debut with the scandalous story "Wings." Unlike K. Somov, Kuzmin was indiscriminate in his connections. He wanted the artist to paint his portrait. The portrait was written in 1909. This is another stiff and somewhat haughty mask. The face is unnaturally white. It creates a contrast with a bright scarlet tie. M. Voloshin saw in his eyes the sadness of centuries, and A. Block - an anachronism.

After the revolution

In 1918 there was a complete edition with erotic drawings made by Konstantin Somov, the Book of the Marquise. Illustrations to her very much like Aubrey Beardsley, only in color. For the first time this book was published in 1907 in German. Expanded and supplemented, it was published in France in 18th year, and the most complete last edition appeared in Russia. In it, fragments from the literary works of various authors of the "gallant age" were supplied with illustrations made by the Russian painter. She immediately broke up and became a rare rare edition. Since we are not in India, where lingams are found at every step, we will give one of the most modest illustrations. Somov Konstantin Andreevich worked, engraving metal, and then painted the drawing with watercolor. Subtle taste of Somov saved him from pornography. Charming shamelessness, frivolity and intense sensuality are all present in the book. A simple enumeration of some names gives an idea of the nature of the drawings: "Kiss", "Persistent Lover", "Alkov". The artist is not a direct illustrator of the text. His drawings, he outstripped the book "Lover of Lady Chatterley", which was scandalized in the 28th year.

Self-portrait

The artist often painted himself in different years of life. But on any he is a dandy. His clothes are exquisite, the color is restrained. In the young and in the later years, the artist carefully, coldly and detachedly peers into himself. Interesting is his 1934 work, where the main part in the foreground is still life. Before us - a dressing table. In a low crystal vase there is a withering rose. So immediately there is an association with the decline of life. He is 65 years old. Nearby lie elegant bow ties, a brush for clothes, there are several crystal bottles with expensive colognes, which are partially used. In the depths there is a mirror, on which light does not fall. It is in him that the viewer sees a part of his face with silvered hair. The view is strict and deliberately obscured. All details are selected with utmost care.

Emigration

In the 23rd year K. Somov went to the United States for an exhibition. America did not like the master, but he did not want to return to Russia either. In the year 25 he moved to Paris, where he continued to work. He loved and knew this city. He did not feel heavy nostalgia, apparently. He, like everyone, was worried about the approaching war, and besides, the leg disease progressed. But the creative life was revived by the discovery of the secrets of the old masters. The painter successfully worked on still life. He suddenly died in 1949 on the eve of the war. Konstantin Somov, whose biography as a whole consisted of creative searches, was for a long time forgotten. It was rediscovered at the end of the 20th century.

Interesting Facts

• Two paintings by K. Somov beat all the records of value at auctions. , а через год «Радуга» была куплена за три млн семьсот тыс. € . In 2006, the "Russian Pastoral" (1922) went for two million four hundred thousand, and a year later "Rainbow" was bought for three million seven hundred thousand.
• E. Martynova ("The Lady in Blue") begged K. Somov not to sell anyone her portrait. She did not want anyone and everyone to get into her soul. E. Martynova asked even just to burn it. Still, the portrait was sold to the State Tretyakov Gallery.