Evgeniy Chuikov
Encyclopedia
Evgeniy Vasilievich Chuikov (Russian language
: Евгений Васильевич Чуйков; May 18, 1924 - February 15, 2000) was a 20th-century Ukrainian landscape painter working in the Russian realist (The Wanderers
) and the French Impressionist (see Impressionism
) traditions.
Evgeniy Chuikov was born in the village of Nizhniy Reut, Kursk region, Russia
. His father Vasiliy Chuikov was an accountant and Evgeniy was the second eldest of three brothers. In 1933 the family moved to Zaporozhie, Ukraine
and Chuikov began attending the local art school under the stewardship I.F.Fedyanin. He quickly distinguished himself with his strong visual memory and intuitive feeling for colour but the pursuit of further art education was however halted by the commencement of the Second World War.
In 1943, at the age of 19, he enrolled into the Red Army
and joined the 3rd Ukrainian Front
(Southwestern Front). He was assigned to a reconnaissance unit and took part in the Russian advance across the Dnieper. As the Red Army progressed, Chuikov joined the 3rd Belorussian Front and fought in the Prague Offensive
and the Battle of Berlin
. He served in Berlin until 1946 after which time he returned to Zaporozhie. For his service during the War he was awarded the 2nd and 3rd Order of Glory
, Medal for Bravery Медаль «За отвагу» as well as numerous other accolades.
Post War and the Zaporozhie school of art
In 1948, working as an artist designer at Zaporozhstal, Chuikov became friends with several other young artists and had joined the local artist workshop. It was at this moment that the Zaporozhie school of art was born and encompassed other artists like G. Kolosovsky, Korobov, Fomin and Akinshin.
Together they were united by their fascination and love of nature. In the footsteps of the Russian realists and beyond Impressionists they tried to convey not simply the light, tone and colour but the sound and air of any given moment.
Chuikov’s influence on the formation of the school and his fellow artists was profound.
As a member of the USSR Union of Artists, Chuikov embarked on the formation of the Zaporozhie branch of the Artists’ Union of Ukraine (USSR Union of Artists
) established in 1963, which he overseen as Chairman for over 20 years whilst also serving on the governing board of the Artists’ Union of Ukraine.
Yet it is his artistic influence which is most celebrated. In late 1960s after several painting trips to the historic Russian city of Vladimir
, he was introduced to the Vladimir school of art and became friends with such artists as V.Ukin, K.Britov and V.Kokurin. Their decorative, colour saturated canvases made a big impact on Chuikov’s work. His landscapes became more assertive with colour and brush strokes and developed an historic melancholy characteristic of such 19th Century Russian realists as Arkady Rylov
and Isaac Levitan
. His work of that period, including the series dedicated to Alexandre Pushkin “Mikhailovskoe”(Pushkin (town)
) dramatically influenced the Zaporozhie school introducing his fellow artists to a more decorative, lighter palette.
In 1977 Chuikov was awarded the title of Merited Artist of Ukraine (Meritorious Artist
) and in 1997 the highest award – the title of the People's Artist
of Ukraine.
Exhibitions
Throughout his artistic career he took part in over 70 National, Republican and Regional exhibitions. He also participated in over 20 international exhibitions primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, USA and France.
Collections
Chuikov’s paintings can be found in many museums across Russia and Former Soviet Union Republics including The National Art Museum of Ukraine
, Moscow Art Academy, Zaporozhie Art Museum, Donetsk Art Museum, Sumi Art Museum.
Bibliography
N.Bazhan, History of Ukrainian Painting, 1968
I.Churina, Landscapes of Evgeniy Chuikov, 1971
S.Latanskiy, Evgeniy Chuikov, personal exhibition catalogue, 1985
Artist Rating Encyclopaedia, Volume VII, Moscow, 2006
Matthew Cullerne Bown, A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Russian and Soviet Painters 1900-80s, 1998, Izo
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Евгений Васильевич Чуйков; May 18, 1924 - February 15, 2000) was a 20th-century Ukrainian landscape painter working in the Russian realist (The Wanderers
Peredvizhniki
Peredvizhniki , often called The Wanderers or The Itinerants in English, were a group of Russian realist artists who in protest at academic restrictions formed an artists' cooperative; it evolved into the Society for Travelling Art Exhibitions in 1870.- History :In 1863 a group of fourteen students...
) and the French Impressionist (see Impressionism
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
) traditions.
Life and work
Early Years and the Second World WarEvgeniy Chuikov was born in the village of Nizhniy Reut, Kursk region, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. His father Vasiliy Chuikov was an accountant and Evgeniy was the second eldest of three brothers. In 1933 the family moved to Zaporozhie, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Chuikov began attending the local art school under the stewardship I.F.Fedyanin. He quickly distinguished himself with his strong visual memory and intuitive feeling for colour but the pursuit of further art education was however halted by the commencement of the Second World War.
In 1943, at the age of 19, he enrolled into the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and joined the 3rd Ukrainian Front
3rd Ukrainian Front
3rd Ukrainian Front was a Front of the Red Army during World War II.It was founded on 20 October 1943, on the basis of a Stavka order of October 16, 1943, by renaming the Southwestern Front. It included 1st Guards Army, 8th Guards Army, 6th, 12th, and 46th Armies and 17th Air Army...
(Southwestern Front). He was assigned to a reconnaissance unit and took part in the Russian advance across the Dnieper. As the Red Army progressed, Chuikov joined the 3rd Belorussian Front and fought in the Prague Offensive
Prague Offensive
The Prague Offensive was the last major Soviet operation of World War II in Europe. The offensive, and the battle for Prague, was fought on the Eastern Front from 6 May to 11 May 1945. This battle for the city is particularly noteworthy in that it ended after the Third Reich capitulated on 8 May...
and the Battle of Berlin
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
. He served in Berlin until 1946 after which time he returned to Zaporozhie. For his service during the War he was awarded the 2nd and 3rd Order of Glory
Order of Glory
Established on 8 November 1943, the Order of Glory was an Order of the Soviet Union. It was awarded to non-commissioned officers and rank-and-file of the armed forces, as well as junior lieutenants of the air force, for bravery in the face of the enemy.The Order of Glory, which was modelled...
, Medal for Bravery Медаль «За отвагу» as well as numerous other accolades.
Post War and the Zaporozhie school of art
Together they were united by their fascination and love of nature. In the footsteps of the Russian realists and beyond Impressionists they tried to convey not simply the light, tone and colour but the sound and air of any given moment.
Chuikov’s influence on the formation of the school and his fellow artists was profound.
As a member of the USSR Union of Artists, Chuikov embarked on the formation of the Zaporozhie branch of the Artists’ Union of Ukraine (USSR Union of Artists
USSR Union of Artists
Union of Artists of the USSR was a creative union of the Soviet artists and arts critics embracing the union republics.The Union started in 1932 to supersede the AKhRR. The integral Union was instituted in 1957...
) established in 1963, which he overseen as Chairman for over 20 years whilst also serving on the governing board of the Artists’ Union of Ukraine.
Yet it is his artistic influence which is most celebrated. In late 1960s after several painting trips to the historic Russian city of Vladimir
Vladimir
Vladimir is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, to the east of Moscow along the M7 motorway. Population:...
, he was introduced to the Vladimir school of art and became friends with such artists as V.Ukin, K.Britov and V.Kokurin. Their decorative, colour saturated canvases made a big impact on Chuikov’s work. His landscapes became more assertive with colour and brush strokes and developed an historic melancholy characteristic of such 19th Century Russian realists as Arkady Rylov
Arkady Rylov
Arkady Alexandrovich Rylov was a Russian and Soviet Symbolist painter.-Biography:Rylov was born in the village Istobenskoye, Vyatka gubernia. He was brought in the family of his stepfather, a notary...
and Isaac Levitan
Isaac Levitan
Isaac Ilyich Levitan was a classical Russian landscape painter who advanced the genre of the "mood landscape".-Youth:...
. His work of that period, including the series dedicated to Alexandre Pushkin “Mikhailovskoe”(Pushkin (town)
Pushkin (town)
Pushkin is a municipal town in Pushkinsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located south from the center of St. Petersburg proper, and its train station, Detskoye Selo, is directly connected by railway to the Vitebsky Rail Terminal of the city...
) dramatically influenced the Zaporozhie school introducing his fellow artists to a more decorative, lighter palette.
In 1977 Chuikov was awarded the title of Merited Artist of Ukraine (Meritorious Artist
Meritorious Artist
Meritorious Artist , also translated as Merited Artist, Deserved Artist or Distinguished Artist or Honorary Artist or Honorable Actor) is an honorary title in the Soviet Union, Russian Federation, Union republics, and Autonomous republics, also in some other Eastern bloc states, as well as in a...
) and in 1997 the highest award – the title of the People's Artist
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
of Ukraine.
Exhibitions
Throughout his artistic career he took part in over 70 National, Republican and Regional exhibitions. He also participated in over 20 international exhibitions primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, USA and France.
Collections
Chuikov’s paintings can be found in many museums across Russia and Former Soviet Union Republics including The National Art Museum of Ukraine
National Art Museum of Ukraine
The National Art Museum of Ukraine is a museum dedicated to Ukrainian art in Kiev, Ukraine.-Architecture:Constructed in 1898, by architect Vladislav Gorodetsky, the building was originally designed as the museum for the local society of patrons of arts and antique lovers...
, Moscow Art Academy, Zaporozhie Art Museum, Donetsk Art Museum, Sumi Art Museum.
Bibliography
N.Bazhan, History of Ukrainian Painting, 1968
I.Churina, Landscapes of Evgeniy Chuikov, 1971
S.Latanskiy, Evgeniy Chuikov, personal exhibition catalogue, 1985
Artist Rating Encyclopaedia, Volume VII, Moscow, 2006
Matthew Cullerne Bown, A Dictionary of Twentieth Century Russian and Soviet Painters 1900-80s, 1998, Izo