On the occasion of the 90th birthday of Myud Mechev (1929-2018)

August 31, 2019 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of one of the largest Russian graphic artists, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Myud Marievich Mechev (1929-2018).

The work of Myud Mechev is widely known and loved by connoisseurs of fine art, both in Russia and in other countries. He left his mark in world culture as an outstanding master of book graphics, working on epic and monumental themes. His work is marked by high state and professional awards. M. Mechev - Laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR im. I.E. Repina, an honorary foreign member of the Kalevala Society (Finland), holder of the Order of the White Rose of the first degree (Finland), was awarded the Government of Finland with a large silver medal and Elias Lennrot bronze medal. The master’s works are in the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia, in many Russian and foreign museums, as well as in private collections in the USA, Vatican, Finland and other countries.

M. Mechev was born in 1929 in Moscow in the family of the artist K. Panteleev-Kireev. He graduated from the Moscow Higher School of Industrial Art (formerly Stroganovskoe). The artist began his career in 1949 in the All-Union competition for the best illustrations for the Karelian-Finnish epic “Kalevala”, he created more than 200 watercolors and drawings. A book with the works of a young author that came to light brought him well-deserved success, and subsequent editions of the epic in Russian and Finnish with engravings by the artist brought world fame. In 2009, Myud Mechev was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of the Republic of Karelia.

Since 1975, the artist has devoted 15 years of his creative activity to illustrating "Tales of Bygone Years." Since 1991, over the past decades, M. Mechev worked on illustrating the four books of the Gospel, creating more than 300 drawings, considering this topic the most important in his work. This outstanding ascetic work of the artist was awarded the gold medal of the Russian Academy of Arts. Later he created illustrations for the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostolic Epistles and the Apocalypse.

In 1993, His Holiness Pope John Paul II awarded Mud Mechev a Pontificate silver medal for humanism and achievements in art.

Each book volume with illustrations by Myuda Mechev is an independent work of art, which combines artistic talent, high technology and the transmission of spirituality of sources. A book illustration was dedicated to his whole life. A very special page of his work is easel graphics. Starting from the northern works of the late 50s of the 20th century, executed in an ascetic restrained style, and ending with still lifes created in the last years of the artist’s life, in which the ease of his writing reaches impressionistic virtuosity, they speak of M. Mechev as a continuer of the best traditions of Russian art. They demonstrate the highest professionalism, which allowed the artist to work in a wide range of topics, graphic techniques and techniques, perfectly mastering watercolors, gouache, pastels, mixed media, pencil, charcoal. Still life, interiors, landscapes, seemingly uncomplicated in the plot (“Frozen Fontanka”, “Three Crows”, “Good Traction”, etc.) are filled with warmth and insight into the deep foundations of life.

Talent accompanied the master in all areas of creativity. He devoted his time and literature. Of the large finished works, the novel Portrait of a Hero and Zaonezhskaya Tale were published. The family archives have preserved notebooks, drafts of manuscripts, and many years of correspondence. He always invented the names of his paintings, and this was the final chord of the work. At the end of his life, Myud Mechev painted flowers. The “remnants of paradise on earth” became for him the quintessence of creative and vital wisdom, consisting in surprise, admiration, beauty and gratitude, concluding the chapter of the “big topic” of life.