“In this house from 1936 to 1939 lived and worked the outstanding Soviet artist Kuzma Sergeyevich Petrov-Vodkin.” That’s what the inscription on the \u041a. \u0421. \u041f\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0443-\u0412\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0443 Plaque tells us. This plaque commemorates a man who was much more than just a painter. He was a visionary artist and writer.
The \u041a. \u0421. \u041f\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0432-\u0412\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0443 Plaque marks the last residence of Kuzma Sergeyevich Petrov-Vodkin. He was born in 1878 and died in Leningrad in 1939. Petrov-Vodkin experienced artistic success and endured periods of being nearly forgotten.
Petrov-Vodkin’s journey began in Khvalynsk. He was the son of a shoemaker. His early artistic exposure came from icon painters. However, art wasn’t his initial focus. He even considered railroad college.
But fate intervened. After failing his exam, he joined art classes. An architect, Robert Meltzer, recognized his talent. Meltzer invited him to study art in Saint Petersburg. Local merchants financed his education.
From 1895 to 1897, Petrov-Vodkin studied in Saint Petersburg. Later, he moved to Moscow. He studied under prominent artists such as Valentin Serov. In 1901, he traveled to Munich for further studies.
While in Paris in 1906, Petrov-Vodkin married Maria Jovanovic. She was the daughter of Serbian hotel keepers. They remained lifelong companions.
Petrov-Vodkin’s artistic style was unique. He combined Orthodox icon aesthetics with bright colors. His compositions were often unusual. Some deemed his works blasphemous. “The Dream” sparked debate among Russian artists. “Bathing of a Red Horse” became his iconic work. It symbolized coming social changes.
From 1924 to 1926, Petrov-Vodkin lived in France with his family. He developed his “spherical perspective.” This technique distorted drawings. It made viewers notice the globe’s curve. He used this in works like “Death of a Commissar.”
In 1927, tuberculosis forced Petrov-Vodkin to limit his painting. He turned to literature. His autobiographical writings gained acclaim.
In 1932, he became the first president of the Leningrad Union of Artists. This marked the beginning of Soviet art.
The \u041a. \u0421. \u041f\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0432-\u0412\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0443 Plaque reminds us of Petrov-Vodkin’s final years. He lived in apartment 20 at 14 Kamennoostrovsky Prospect from 1936 until his death in 1939. His neighbor was the composer Dmitry Shostakovich.
Today, Petrov-Vodkin’s works are displayed in the Russian Museum. A memorial museum exists in his hometown. It displays his works and those of other local painters.
The \u041a. \u0421. \u041f\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0432-\u0412\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0443 Plaque serves as a reminder. It honors an artist whose vision shaped Soviet art. His legacy lives on through his paintings and writings.