Georgy Ryazhsky was a painter who worked in the style of Socialist Realism. He was born into a poor peasant family. He started as a draftsman and eventually became a professor at the Academy of Arts and an Honored Artist of the RSFSR. In his paintings, Ryazhsky portrayed representatives of the new Soviet intelligentsia who were inspired by the October Revolution of 1917 and were shaping their own future. They were strong-willed, confident, determined, and fascinated with ideas, almost fanatical. This is the way Georgy Ryazhsky depicted himself in this self-portrait. The painting has a slightly offhand look that is in tune with the spirit of the times.
Georgy Ryazhsky was born in the village of Ignatyevo, near Moscow, in 1895. His art education began in the art class of the Prechistenka evening courses for workers in Moscow. Painters referred to these courses as “the People’s Academy of Arts”, because they provided young people of humble origin with the opportunity to work in the arts. One of the artist’s teachers was Mikhail Leblan who had studied under Valentin Serov, Konstantin Korovin, and Henri Matisse.
Georgy Ryazhsky was forced to take a break from his studies when he was drafted into the army during World War I. Later, he worked as an artist for the Red Army, painted posters, and created decorations for revolutionary holidays. When the authorities promoted the new genre of avant-garde, Ryazhsky soon felt constrained by its limits. He founded a new group of artists known as the New Society of Painters, or the NOZh (translated as “a knife” from Russian). This group opposed constructivism and the mechanical oversimplification of art. The NOZh encouraged artists to go back to figurative art, and classical painting. Their manifesto was supported by many artists and gave birth to the new genre of Socialist Realism.
Georgy Ryazhsky was the first to single out and establish the concept of the Soviet woman as an active builder of Socialism. His paintings “Workers’ School Student”, “Typist”, “Delegate”, “Chairwoman”, “Tractor Driver”, “Teacher”, “Skier”, and “Railwaywoman” enriched the Soviet art with the new image of a socially active Soviet woman. In all of these portraits, the painter demonstrated the strength, beauty, and important social role of his characters.
Another painter of that period Konstantin Yuon wrote about Georgy Ryazhsky,
Georgy Ryazhsky was born in the village of Ignatyevo, near Moscow, in 1895. His art education began in the art class of the Prechistenka evening courses for workers in Moscow. Painters referred to these courses as “the People’s Academy of Arts”, because they provided young people of humble origin with the opportunity to work in the arts. One of the artist’s teachers was Mikhail Leblan who had studied under Valentin Serov, Konstantin Korovin, and Henri Matisse.
Georgy Ryazhsky was forced to take a break from his studies when he was drafted into the army during World War I. Later, he worked as an artist for the Red Army, painted posters, and created decorations for revolutionary holidays. When the authorities promoted the new genre of avant-garde, Ryazhsky soon felt constrained by its limits. He founded a new group of artists known as the New Society of Painters, or the NOZh (translated as “a knife” from Russian). This group opposed constructivism and the mechanical oversimplification of art. The NOZh encouraged artists to go back to figurative art, and classical painting. Their manifesto was supported by many artists and gave birth to the new genre of Socialist Realism.
Georgy Ryazhsky was the first to single out and establish the concept of the Soviet woman as an active builder of Socialism. His paintings “Workers’ School Student”, “Typist”, “Delegate”, “Chairwoman”, “Tractor Driver”, “Teacher”, “Skier”, and “Railwaywoman” enriched the Soviet art with the new image of a socially active Soviet woman. In all of these portraits, the painter demonstrated the strength, beauty, and important social role of his characters.
Another painter of that period Konstantin Yuon wrote about Georgy Ryazhsky,
