KRAVCHENKO Chirikov

Aleksey Ilyich Kravchenko (1889-1940). Creativity Alexei Ilyich Kravchenko, a well-known masters of engraving, a brilliant draftsman, painter, belongs entirely to the 1920-1930-th year, when going on the establishment of Soviet art. This time formed a special type of artist's great creative range, actively involved in social and political life of the country.

Active nature Kravchenko consistent with the heroic nature of time. In the first days after the October Revolution, he wrote a large board on the revolutionary theme to decorate the streets of Moscow and drawing posters. In 1918 the artist went to Saratov on the appointment Lunacharskogo charge of the museum of art. Several years spent in his native city, were for him for years of fruitful creative work. Kravchenko organizes a poster shop in South-Eastern Front, formalizes revolutionary holidays, wrote sketches for theater productions and teaches at the College of Arts and teaches courses in drawing workers' club.

. As a recognized master schedules, Kravchenko repeatedly represented his compositions Soviet art at various international exhibitions
. He spoke with the reading of papers and lectures, introducing a wide foreign audience with the achievements of Soviet artists in different fields of fine art.

. The creative biography of the artist began in the walls of the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
. His teachers were in. Serov and K. Korovin. Throughout his life Kravchenko turned to painting, and it is a significant part of his artistic heritage. Paintings characterized by a thin decorative and rich range of colors from the noble restrained tones to rich, saturated color.

. But not painting, but the schedule is an area of artistic creation, in which most fully disclose gifts Kravchenko
. He was a bold innovator, has created a unique personal language of graphic expression, allowed to be emotional 'perception of the world. That schedule, rather woodcut, brought him worldwide fame, has launched a series of remarkable artists of our time.

The first experiments in the graph refer to years when painting defined the young artist's creative search. Particularly fascinated him etching. In this technique, beautiful light and shadow effects are one of the most important means of artistic expression. "Rome. Ponto Roto "," India. Benares "," storm on Volga "refer to 1916. In each sheet Kravchenko, fetches from the wealth of expressive techniques. Linear fineness of detail in the Roman architectural landscape is replaced by the sharp contrast of black and white spots, . of which grow fanciful forms of eastern architecture, . tonal development, . power stroke convey the elemental power of lightning landscape,
. A lot of productive work and the artist in a complex form of etchings, often using color printing. Famous color etching, printed with five boards - Venice. Area St.. Mark "- made in 1926 after traveling to Italy. Warm tones of yellow, brick-red flowers, shaded by a soft green, creating a festive flavor grand palace square.

Wood engraving - woodcuts - Kravchenko started in 1919. It is hard to master this highly complex technique independently and in a short time seeking brilliant results. Shortly after returning to in 1921 in Moscow, he became one of the leading block-prints. Great success enjoyed his bookplate, fine image thumbnails. Each masterfully traced detail tells about the spiritual interests of the owner, a complicated story composition becomes poetic narrative about the identity bibliophile. Kravchenko was a man of high culture, broad education, a connoisseur and lover of literature, which naturally led to his book illustrations. But not only love the book, but also the consciousness that was published in large numbers beautifully designed book is an educator of artistic taste, attaches a mass audience for art and culture. According to the artist, he always took up for work on books, close to the spiritual world. He illustrates the works of Dickens, Hugo, Balzac, Zweig, Pushkin, Leonova, Sholokhov.

A significant achievement of the Soviet art began its work by the "Lord of the Fleas Hoffmann (1922) and Gogol's" Portrait "(1923). The world of human passions, dramatic experiences primarily seeks to reveal the artist. Jerky movements of the characters convey the inner excitement, confusion, mental state. Power stroke, the rhythmic alternation of black and white, rich tone relations create expressive, artistic images, filled with a romantic mystery, the great tragic force. Recognition of high-skill Kravchenko was awarded to him in 1925, the highest award at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Industry in Paris.

. Thinly feeling the charm of the old culture and at the same time having a wide view of the world, Kravchenko could not see and did not feel the romance of the new
. Gradually the modern become a leading topic in his work. In 1923, he first chooses a theme for its Soviet heavy machine prints "Red Army restores the bridge" and "Red artillery on the positions". New topics open and the search for new means of expression. The elegance of the chamber is replaced by the monumentality graphics sheets.

The most significant work that reflects contemporary life, is a series of superb engravings "Dnieper" (1931). It alleged heroic labor, reveals the high poetry of the time of industrialization. The artist not only depicts the majestic panorama of the construction, giant structures, but above all to convey his emotion feat of the Soviet man. Crisp rhythms of black and white strokes reveal the structure of strict forms, the dynamic contrast between dark and bright spots attached to a graphic language of force and energy.

. Artworks Kravchenko always attract its pronounced emotional and embodied a variety of shades of feelings
. Many of the drawings of the artist suddenly discover subtle lyrical feelings. Captivates the poetic charm of drawing 1927 "The Summer Garden. Alley with marble statues, in which the harmonious existence of two principles - of nature and art - is the embodiment of beauty in the world.

Kravchenko - a master image. He worked easily, freely, artistically. His manner of peculiar and picturesque softness and strict logic line. Many drawings in the artistic heritage of the artist: working drawings, sketches from nature, mounted works. And his last works were drawings, illustrations for the novel by Victor Hugo "Notre Dame de Paris", made in 1940.

Early cut short the life of AI. Kravchenko, who generously gave their talents to people. Rhetoric of his art lies in the amazing ability to convey his admiration for the beauty of the world, to capture this experience of the viewer and make it creative is owned by the discovery of the world.