GRAPHICS

GRAPHICS, a kind of fine arts, including drawings and printed artworks. In Bashkortostan, G. started to develop in the mid. 1920s of the 20th century and is associated with the names of Yu.Yu.Blumenthal (Old Bashkir), K.S.Devletkildeyev (Bashkir Bear Hunter), and M.N.Yelgashtina (Spring Twilight), in whose artistic works the traditions of Russian classical watercolours received a new interpretation. During this period, thedrawingsby G.P.Cherkasheninov, A.P.Lezhnev, as well as the watercolour landscapes and portraits by P.M.Lebedev were created; in the 1930s – the sketches of ornaments and objects of the decorative applied art of Bashkirs by V.S.Syromyatnikov. The independent nature of the unique G. manifested itself in the work of B.M.Piskunov Defection of Bashkir troops to the Side of the Red Army that became a rare experience of the historical composition, executed in the watercolour technique. In these years, Artist R.G.Gumerov, whose art contributed to the establishment and development of the book illustration G., began his artistic career. In the 50–60s, watercolour and drawing techniques continued to develop in line with realistic traditions. Artists turn to the topic of people’s labour heroism in the period of the national economy recovery, the life of kolkhoz village, rethink the beauty of the landscape (Rural Landscap’, Autumn Arable Land by Sh.G.Chanyshev; Mother, Night is Falling, The Reid of Blukher by R.Yu.Khalitov; The Village of Fishermen, A Shift Team of Drillers by H.H.Ganeyev). The key objective of the artist – ‘to organize the integral body of the book’, where all the artistic elements are simultaneously subordinated to the key goal, – was implemented by A.A.Astrakhantsev, who elevated the art of the book illustration G. to the whole new level. During this period, the following artists were working fruitfully: V.D.Dianov, who created the soulful illustrations, filled with dynamism, to the M.Karim’s work Black Waters; S.R.Kovalyov, whose design of Russian epics and fairy tales attracts by its elegance; A.A.Holopov, whose illustrations to the works by M.Karim and M.Gali are distinguished by their skill and artistic originality. In the field of book illustrations, the following artists worked in the 1970s: A.V.Veselov, I.F.Kibalnik, Korolevskiy, A.Sh.Lutov, E.M.Saitov, S.A. Fadeyev; between the 80–90s: M.L.Akhmadullin, S.B.Bilalova, A.A.Vasilov, A.R.Garipov, M.L.Kayumova, A.A.Kostin, S.V.Madzhar, U.T.Masalimov, A.R.Mukhtarullin, I.S.Fayrushin, etc.

The 70—80s are marked by the works of the authors, who significantly expanded the themes of unique G.: landscapes, portraits, works dedicated to social themes and compositions on everyday life were created by V.N.Lesin (Dry Forest), I.I.Fartukov (Cele- bration in Toila), V.I.Suzdaltsev (Veliky Ustyug), Z.G.Gayanov (The Aigir River). In the 90s, a number of artists appeared, who noticeably enriched the plastic language of watercolour art: R.R.Abdullin (Spider Web. April), I.G.Valitov (Yellow Moon), L.Z.Rakhmatullina (The Reverse Side of Life). In early 2000s, the number of authors started to grow and the geography of watercolour G. art expanded: Z.A.Galimova, R.M.Lavrinenko (Ufa), S.N.Gerasimov, isters E.V. and O.V.Litvinenko (Sterlitamak), V.V.Shapovalov (Agidel).

50—60s — is the period of printed art development. It was addressed by B.Ya.Palekha, who was one of the first to master the technique of lino print, drypoint and monoprinting (Socialist Ufa) and Sh.G.Chanyshev (In Bashkiria, A Mill at the Spring Well). The themes and techniques of prints by I.F.Kibalnik (Selo Karayar, Horses) are varied. A series of works by R.M.Agishev (Bashkir Ballet, Orchestra) and V.A.Rudakov (Circus) is dedicated to the art of Bashkortostan. The lino prints, full of dynamism, by A.G.Korolevskiy and the etchings, permeated with lyricism, by E.M.Saitov and F.H.Shagabutdinov are distinguished by strict graphic culture. Between the 80—90s, there appeared realistic works by R.R.Magliyev (Old Ufa series), etchings by K.G.Gubaidullin (Aral series, triptych Ecology of Power), full of philosophical drama, grotesque etchings by A.R.Teregulov (Men’s Games series, About Love), expressive etchings by I.V.Tonkonogiy (The Run). The historical theme is presented in the works of R. Ya.Minnebayev (a series of etchings Hyper- boreans). The search for greater expressiveness of the graphic language, the desire to enrich the traditional technical arsenal with new methods of author’s technique (relief in engraving, different ways of shading, etc) mark the art of B.A.Samosyuk (Biblical Plots series). Active integration into the global cultural process brought new themes into the G. printmaking of Bashkortostan (O.A.Samosyuk, a series of etchings Civilization), techniques and forms [a series of works by R.Ya.Minnebayev (Megalits, IbnFadlan’s Journey to the Itil River) and S.M.Gilyazetdinov (Steppe, Sak and Sok)].