The Russian Vision: The Art of Ilya Repin

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BAI, 2006 - Art - 304 pages
Ilya Repin (1844-1930) is a key figure of Russian nineteenth century realism, the finest and most celebrated national painter of his generation. His career spanned a period of huge cultural, social and political change which witnessed the challenge to Russian autocracy, the coming of the October Revolution and the dawn of the Soviet Union. From humble peasant beginnings Repin rose to a place of artistic preeminence and international acclaim and was the most important influence in shaping a distinctly Russian school of art. Through a series of successful but controversial works he addressed such issues as the hard lives of the peasants, the fate of revolutionary activists and Russian history, as well as painting some of the nation's greatest cultural figures, many of whom - such as Tolstoy, Musorgsky and Gorky - he counted as personal friends. A painter of immense technical and aesthetic talent, Repin's vibrant, colourful and highly topical canvases offer a fascinating panorama of all strata of life in late-Tsarist Russia and a microcosm of the issues that preoccupied Russian thought during this crucial period of historical change. This is the first book by a western art historian devoted to a full critical analysis of Repin's vast output. Drawing on a wealth of illustration from public and private collections in Russia and abroad, it combines close readings of all his major canvases, as well as many of his most intriguing but lesser known works, within the broader context of Russian art, society and culture. Written in an accessible style, this unique publication will be essential reading for academics, students and enthusiasts interested in Russian art, Slavic culture and nineteenth century painting.

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