Oil painting -> List of Painters -> Aleksandr Ivanovich Laktionov
EARLY DAYS:
Aleksandr Ivanovich Laktionov was a Russian painter who was born in Okulovka, Russia on October 5, 1910. His father, Ivan Vasilievich Laktionov, was a peasant who owned a small plot of land. His mother, Helen Grigorievna was a seamstress. Laktionov's parents had another son, Mikhail, who died at a young age. Aleksandr was the youngest of three siblings.
Laktionov's early life was not easy. His family was very poor and he had to work in the fields to help with the family's finances. He was also responsible for helping to look after his two sisters, Maria and Anna. Despite the hardships, Laktionov's parents encouraged him to attend school and he was able to finish secondary school in 1929.
Laktionov's artistic talent was apparent from an early age. He began to paint at home and soon began to take lessons from a local artist, Ivan Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov introduced Laktionov to the world of art and encouraged him to pursue his artistic ambitions. In 1929, Laktionov was accepted into the Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Leningrad.
At the Repin Institute, Laktionov studied under the renowned Russian painter, Boris Ioganson. Ioganson was a great influence on Laktionov, introducing him to the avant-garde styles of the time. In 1932, Laktionov graduated from the Repin Institute with honors.
The early years of Laktionov's career were marked by political and social unrest in Russia. After the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, the country went through a period of upheaval. Laktionov's art was heavily influenced by his turbulent times and he painted in a realistic style that portrayed the everyday struggles of the people around him.
During the 1930s, Laktionov's works were displayed in various exhibitions in Moscow and Leningrad. He was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1939. He was also given the title of People's Artist of the Soviet Union in 1947.
Throughout his career, Laktionov painted in different styles, ranging from realistic to abstract. He was also known for his portraits of prominent political figures, such as Lenin and Stalin. His works can be found in several major museums in Russia.
Laktionov passed away in Moscow on June 5, 1989. He left behind a legacy of art that has inspired generations of Russian artists. The early days of Aleksandr Ivanovich Laktionov's life and career have left an indelible mark on the history of Russian art.
Personal Details:
CAREER:
Laktionov started his career in 1938, when he was admitted to the prestigious Moscow Art Institute. He studied under some of the country's most renowned painters, including Mikhail Bobyshov and Ivan Kazantsev. During the Second World War, he served in the Soviet Army and was involved in the liberation of Belorussia from Nazi forces. After the war, he returned to Moscow and continued his studies at the institute.
He graduated in 1951 and began working as a professional artist. He also became involved in the Soviet Union's unofficial "Severe Style" of art, which was characterized by its abstract and expressionist qualities. His works focused on depicting the Soviet people and the struggles they faced under Stalin's rule.
In the 1950s, he held his first solo exhibition, which was very successful and earned him a number of awards. His works were then exhibited in Moscow, Leningrad, and other cities in the Soviet Union. In addition to exhibiting his work, Laktionov also taught at the Moscow Art Institute and other art schools.
During the 1960s, Laktionov's works began to gain international recognition. In 1964, he was awarded a Gold Medal at the International Biennale of Graphic Arts in Florence, Italy and his works were exhibited in many countries around the world.
In the 1970s, Laktionov began to focus more on landscape painting, incorporating his abstract and expressionist style. He created a series of works depicting the winter landscape of Siberia, which earned him the Lenin Prize in 1978. In the 1980s, he was commissioned to paint a number of works for the Kremlin, including a series of portraits of Soviet leaders.
Laktionov was a prolific painter throughout his career, creating more than 3,000 works of art in his lifetime. He is remembered as one of the most prominent members of the unofficial "Severe Style" of art, and his works can be found in galleries and museums around the world. He passed away on October 5, 2001 in Moscow, at the age of 78.
