3rd exhibition of the project "Moscow Kazan" Dmitry Krasilnikov (1903–1951). Painting, Graphics

A new exhibition of the State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan presents the work of one of the leading masters of graphics of Tatarstan, 1920-30-s D.N. Krasilnikova. The exhibition presents more than 70 works of painting and graphics, books, newspapers and magazines from the collections of the State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Scientific Library. N. I. Lobachevsky, as well as from the archive of the artist’s family, carefully preserved by his daughter

Dmitry Nikolaevich Krasilnikov (1903–1951) is one of the most prominent representatives of that galaxy of young Tatar artists, which has been forming since the mid-1920s within the walls of the Kazan Art Institute (since 1926 - the Art and Pedagogical College). Young artists, first of all, were called up to work in the Tatar book and periodicals, which at that time were actively developing both in Kazan and in Moscow. They transformed the appearance of books and periodicals in accordance with the new content. In their work, they overcame centuries-old prohibitions on the depiction of animals and humans, strictly enforced in Tatar culture, combining the traditions of Arabic graphics and Tatar decorative art with the principles of the academic art school and the achievements of the European avant-garde.

D.N. Krasilnikov was born in 1903 in the village. Middle Pinyachi of the Kazan province in the family of Tatars-Kryashen. Changes in the life of society, generated by the revolution, allowed him to realize his early artistic abilities. He received the best professional education at that time, studying first in Kazan, then in Moscow at VKhUTEIN and in 1933 he graduated from the Polygraphic Institute.

Creative activity D.N. Krasilnikova began in the years of study in Kazan. He collaborated with the magazines “Aul Yashlyare”, “Azat Khatyn”, “Beznesuul”, designed books for Tatizdat and Tatnarkomzem, on the pages of which he printed numerous drawings in various genres, and created vivid, eye-catching covers. His drawings were distinguished by realistic reliability and, at the same time, refinement of graphic texture and special lyricism.

While studying in Moscow, D.N. Krasilnikov began to cooperate already with Moscow publishing houses that published national literature, the Young Guard, the Central Publishing House of the Peoples of the USSR, and others. He worked in Tatar publications in the Kommunist newspaper, in the magazines Udarniklar and October Balasy, where he made friends with Musa Jalil; in large Russian-language magazines "Searchlight", "Change", "Pioneer" and others, where his illustrations and cartoons were printed next to drawings by leading masters of Soviet magazine graphics. In the 1930s, D. N. Krasilnikov began to engage in posters, easel drawings and paintings, presenting his work at major exhibitions of Soviet art, including abroad.

The Great Patriotic War was a turning point in the life and work of the artist. He fought bravely at the front, and after being wounded, he was sent to work for the editorial board of the Belarusian partisan newspaper “Crush the fascist reptile!”, On the pages of which his drawings, exposing the atrocities of the Nazis, calling for steadfastness and loyalty, contributed to the fight against the enemy. After the war, D.N. Krasilnikov was left in Minsk to work in the new satirical journal “Wozyk”. Heading the art department of the magazine, he made a huge contribution to the development of Belarusian satirical graphics. So, a young man from a remote Tatar village became one of the leading graphic artists not only in Kazan, but also in Moscow and Minsk, making an invaluable contribution to the development of national fine art of the two republics.

The exhibition at the Khazine National Art Gallery of the Pushkin Museum is the first solo exhibition by Dmitry Krasilnikov, which presents him both as a graphic artist and as a painter, and allows him to appreciate all the facets of his outstanding talent.

Olga Ulemnova