Vladimir Kholuev’s painting “Spring labour” depicts a popular topic for Soviet art in the second half of the 20th century: the development of virgin land. Artists of this period were tasked with producing realistic artistic images of Soviet feats of labour performed in virgin land. Many painters, especially younger ones, expressed a desire to participate directly in such a grand undertaking.
Vladimir Kholuev was a painter, member of the Union of Artists, and Honoured Artist of the RSFSR. He was born in 1932 at Lev Tolstoy Station in Ryazan Region (now Lipetsk Region). He graduated from the Ryazan Art College and the I.E. Repin Academy of Arts in 1957. The artist worked primarily in historical and genre painting. His monumental canvases: “Soldiers of the revolution”, “Sormovo”, “Builders”, and “You fell victim” brought him success at all-Union exhibitions. The Union of Artists made it possible for him to go on creative trips around the country and the world. He visited Italy and other European countries on business. He was particularly interested in subjects related to the everyday life of workers. He worked tirelessly, making sketches of his friends, scientists, builders, and those he met while travelling.
The painting “Spring labour” depicts three men talking amongst themselves. It is early spring. The workers sit in front of vast expanses of black earth. The close-up depiction of the figures and pastose brushwork lend the images special weight and significance. The artist depicts real life on canvas without attempting to dress it up. He draws special attention to the men’s working hands, which look monumental against the general background of figures, noticeably larger than the proportions would seem to call for. They are far from the usual understanding of beauty and painted in clear, abrupt lines and large strokes.
Despite the social aim of the work, Kholuev was also interested in portrait images, atmosphere, and landscapes. Even in this picture, where the figures of the workers and the dark virgin land occupy the greater part, the viewer’s attention cannot avoid the artistically transmitted landscape: the air is still cold and the sky is just starting to take on its spring hue and height.
Vladimir Kholuev was a painter, member of the Union of Artists, and Honoured Artist of the RSFSR. He was born in 1932 at Lev Tolstoy Station in Ryazan Region (now Lipetsk Region). He graduated from the Ryazan Art College and the I.E. Repin Academy of Arts in 1957. The artist worked primarily in historical and genre painting. His monumental canvases: “Soldiers of the revolution”, “Sormovo”, “Builders”, and “You fell victim” brought him success at all-Union exhibitions. The Union of Artists made it possible for him to go on creative trips around the country and the world. He visited Italy and other European countries on business. He was particularly interested in subjects related to the everyday life of workers. He worked tirelessly, making sketches of his friends, scientists, builders, and those he met while travelling.
The painting “Spring labour” depicts three men talking amongst themselves. It is early spring. The workers sit in front of vast expanses of black earth. The close-up depiction of the figures and pastose brushwork lend the images special weight and significance. The artist depicts real life on canvas without attempting to dress it up. He draws special attention to the men’s working hands, which look monumental against the general background of figures, noticeably larger than the proportions would seem to call for. They are far from the usual understanding of beauty and painted in clear, abrupt lines and large strokes.
Despite the social aim of the work, Kholuev was also interested in portrait images, atmosphere, and landscapes. Even in this picture, where the figures of the workers and the dark virgin land occupy the greater part, the viewer’s attention cannot avoid the artistically transmitted landscape: the air is still cold and the sky is just starting to take on its spring hue and height.
