Pavel Alexandrovich Radimov (1887-1967), an artist and a poet, was born in the clergyman’s family in the village of Khodyainovo, Zaraysk district. All the artist’s relatives were bucolic clerks and priests, so Pavel Alexandrovich and his two brothers also received clerkly education at the Zaraisk school and at the Ryazan seminary. In 1905, refusing to take the gown, Radimov went to the capital and entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Then he entered the philological department of Kazan University (Moscow universities didn’t accept former seminary students). He graduated in 1911 with the final project on Homer’s legacy.
Along with his university studies, Radimov continued to examine the art of painting. Nikolay Ivanovich Feshin (1881-1955) became his teacher. In 1914, Pavel Radimov entered the Itinerants Society. The artist became its last chairman. At the end of the 47th Itinerants’ exhibition, Radimov read out the work “On the Reflection of Life in Art”, which caused a violent reaction among the Itinerants’ opponents. Because of the exhibition, a partnership declaration was published, in which the main theses were documentary truthfulness in reflecting the life of modern Russia and loyalty to the techniques of realistic painting. In 1923, the Society of Wandering Exhibitions ceased to exist, and the principles proclaimed in the declaration formed the basis of the ideological program of the Association of Revolutionary Russian Artists (ARRA). Pavel Radimov was one of its founders.
Peasant life is one of the central themes in both poetry and painting of Pavel Radimov. Throughout his entire career, Radimov depicted mainly small rural houses and ‘gardens of hushed lonely villages.’ ‘Zaraysk Village’ is one of the master’s canvases, which embodies the motives of his small homeland. Barefoot children came out to bask in the rays of the spring sun on the porch of the thatched hut. Following the principles of realistic art, the artist does not try to embellish or hide the unsightly details. We see a simple country house with rickety windows and an almost completely weakened roof. Even though the view of the hut and the courtyard testifies to the scarcity of peasants’ family, the canvas does not leave an impression of hopelessness. The artist simply observes the life of his characters without judging it. This is what gives the picture its special charm, based on the bare truth of reality.
Along with his university studies, Radimov continued to examine the art of painting. Nikolay Ivanovich Feshin (1881-1955) became his teacher. In 1914, Pavel Radimov entered the Itinerants Society. The artist became its last chairman. At the end of the 47th Itinerants’ exhibition, Radimov read out the work “On the Reflection of Life in Art”, which caused a violent reaction among the Itinerants’ opponents. Because of the exhibition, a partnership declaration was published, in which the main theses were documentary truthfulness in reflecting the life of modern Russia and loyalty to the techniques of realistic painting. In 1923, the Society of Wandering Exhibitions ceased to exist, and the principles proclaimed in the declaration formed the basis of the ideological program of the Association of Revolutionary Russian Artists (ARRA). Pavel Radimov was one of its founders.
Peasant life is one of the central themes in both poetry and painting of Pavel Radimov. Throughout his entire career, Radimov depicted mainly small rural houses and ‘gardens of hushed lonely villages.’ ‘Zaraysk Village’ is one of the master’s canvases, which embodies the motives of his small homeland. Barefoot children came out to bask in the rays of the spring sun on the porch of the thatched hut. Following the principles of realistic art, the artist does not try to embellish or hide the unsightly details. We see a simple country house with rickety windows and an almost completely weakened roof. Even though the view of the hut and the courtyard testifies to the scarcity of peasants’ family, the canvas does not leave an impression of hopelessness. The artist simply observes the life of his characters without judging it. This is what gives the picture its special charm, based on the bare truth of reality.
