Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, one of the artists of the Silver Age of Russian Art, graduated from the Law Faculty of the Saint Petersburg University. He tried to enter the Academy of Arts, but did not succeed, and became a student at the private art school of Lev Dmitriev-Kavkazsky.
In 1899, Dobuzhinsky went abroad and continued his studies at the Anton Ažbe Art School, popular with Russian artists, and the Studio of Simon Hollósy in Munich. Unlike academic teachers, Anton Ažbe taught to see and transmit structure and to generalize forms to avoid simple naturalistic copying. Simon Hollósy developed individual abilities of his students and helped them to find their own unique artistic style.
On his return to Saint Petersburg in 1901, Dobuzhinsky became affiliated with the ‘Mir Iskusstva’ artistic circle. He published his drawings in their magazines and created illustration for books. Cityscapes were one of the main themes in Dobuzhinsky’s art.
Painter Igor Grabar, a friend of Dobuzhinsky, recalled:
In 1899, Dobuzhinsky went abroad and continued his studies at the Anton Ažbe Art School, popular with Russian artists, and the Studio of Simon Hollósy in Munich. Unlike academic teachers, Anton Ažbe taught to see and transmit structure and to generalize forms to avoid simple naturalistic copying. Simon Hollósy developed individual abilities of his students and helped them to find their own unique artistic style.
On his return to Saint Petersburg in 1901, Dobuzhinsky became affiliated with the ‘Mir Iskusstva’ artistic circle. He published his drawings in their magazines and created illustration for books. Cityscapes were one of the main themes in Dobuzhinsky’s art.
Painter Igor Grabar, a friend of Dobuzhinsky, recalled:
