Mordovian motifs are reflected in the works of artists of different generations, regardless of whether they were born in Mordovia or for some reason moved there from other regions. Many canvases dedicated to the culture of Mordovia were painted by the artist Alexander Rodionov (1926–1977). He studied in Murom, in the studio of the famous artist Ivan Kulikov, graduated from the Moscow Architectural Institute and the Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Leningrad. After completing his studies, the artist lived in Vladimir. In 1961, Alexander Rodionov received an invitation from the Artists’ Union of Mordovia and moved with his wife to Saransk.
The artist was imbued with love for the rich culture of the Mordovian people. Working in the genres of portrait, landscape, still life and thematic painting, he created many canvases on national themes. Alexander Rodionov depicted the everyday life and festive days of rural residents and intellectuals.
A lot of works inspired by the traditions and customs of the Mordovian peoples were created by the artist’s wife, sculptor and ceramist Elena Rodionova. In 1964, the painting “Autumn Gifts” was painted in the dormitory where the couple lived, in a small room — today this work is kept in the Mordovian Republican Museum of Visual Arts named after S.D. Erzia.
The history of this painting is quite interesting. Once, a plethora of vegetables was brought to Alexander Rodionov: he placed a girl, his neighbor, among the heads of cabbages, gave her a basin, rolled out a Mordovian apron, and the little girl began to nibble turnips with ease and pleasure.
This is how the composition of the painting was created: the little girl in the center and the gifts of nature around her. The artistic solution here is unusual: large objects are concentrated along the edges of the canvas, while the compositional center is free and highlighted by colors. This technique allowed the artist to emphasize the unassuming nature of his little neighbor.
The artist paints the canvas with dynamic, sweeping, energetic brush strokes, often uses a palette knife for applying paint — a special tool resembling a spatula or knife. The colors of the painting are juicy and saturated. On the one hand, the color scheme of the canvas relates the artist with the Vladimir school of painting, on the other hand, it reflects the brightness of colors inherent in the Mordovian culture.
The artist was imbued with love for the rich culture of the Mordovian people. Working in the genres of portrait, landscape, still life and thematic painting, he created many canvases on national themes. Alexander Rodionov depicted the everyday life and festive days of rural residents and intellectuals.
A lot of works inspired by the traditions and customs of the Mordovian peoples were created by the artist’s wife, sculptor and ceramist Elena Rodionova. In 1964, the painting “Autumn Gifts” was painted in the dormitory where the couple lived, in a small room — today this work is kept in the Mordovian Republican Museum of Visual Arts named after S.D. Erzia.
The history of this painting is quite interesting. Once, a plethora of vegetables was brought to Alexander Rodionov: he placed a girl, his neighbor, among the heads of cabbages, gave her a basin, rolled out a Mordovian apron, and the little girl began to nibble turnips with ease and pleasure.
This is how the composition of the painting was created: the little girl in the center and the gifts of nature around her. The artistic solution here is unusual: large objects are concentrated along the edges of the canvas, while the compositional center is free and highlighted by colors. This technique allowed the artist to emphasize the unassuming nature of his little neighbor.
The artist paints the canvas with dynamic, sweeping, energetic brush strokes, often uses a palette knife for applying paint — a special tool resembling a spatula or knife. The colors of the painting are juicy and saturated. On the one hand, the color scheme of the canvas relates the artist with the Vladimir school of painting, on the other hand, it reflects the brightness of colors inherent in the Mordovian culture.
