Marina Uspenskaya
Encyclopedia
Marina Yevgenyevna Uspenskaya was a prominent Russian book designer and graphics painter.
in 1925. She graduated from the 1905 Art College, where she studied theatre and decorative arts under professor V.A. Shestakov. In 1947 she entered the graphics department of the Surikov Institute in Moscow, where she studied under professor D.E. Dekhtyaryev in the book illustration studio.
and Silver Hoof. Marina Evgenevna was one of the anchor artists on the famous children's journal Murzilka
from 1958 to the late 1960s. In total, her illustrations have been printed in more than 115 million books and postcards.
Applying watercolour, Indian ink and gouache in warm and gentle colours, she saw daily life through the eyes of a child. Her illustrations are detailed, yet with a simple and very light touch, and she showed the joy of being a child, even in an adult world that you do not always understand.
Marina Evgenevna continued the tradition of her grandfather Vasily Navozov, artist and Academy
member, and for many years her life was connected to famous Moscow artist and academician Boris Uspensky
. Her art changed over time, but always in her very personal and highly recognisable style. From the late 1960s onwards she moved away from her classical realism into a more expressionistic and symbolic world.
From the late 1980s she watched, and was inspired by, the changes in everyday life happening in the transition from the
Soviet Union
to the new Russia. This was for example reflected in her colourful, often red or orange, images of the New Russian Women – as she called them – which she boldly and virtuously depicted in scenes from every-day life. Her favourite media in her later years was the colour pencil, with which she depicted daily life in Moscow, be it in the Moscow metro or
evenings at the theatre or the ballet.
Biography
Marina Uspenskaya was born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1925. She graduated from the 1905 Art College, where she studied theatre and decorative arts under professor V.A. Shestakov. In 1947 she entered the graphics department of the Surikov Institute in Moscow, where she studied under professor D.E. Dekhtyaryev in the book illustration studio.
Works
After graduation she found her passion and craft: Illustrations for children's books. Throughout her career, she made illustrations for some 200 children's books in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Russia, France, India and Japan. She worked for several of the largest publishing houses in her native country, including "Detskaya Literatura", "Detgiz" and "Malysh". She is particularly famous for her illustrations for classic Russian fairytales, including Ruslan and LyudmilaRuslan and Lyudmila
Ruslan and Lyudmila is an opera in five acts composed by Mikhail Glinka between 1837 and 1842. The opera is based on the 1820 poem of the same name by Alexander Pushkin. The Russian libretto was written by Valerian Shirkov, Nestor Kukolnik and N. A. Markevich, among others...
and Silver Hoof. Marina Evgenevna was one of the anchor artists on the famous children's journal Murzilka
Murzilka
Murzilka is a popular Soviet/Russian illustrated magazine for children 6–12 years old produced from May 1924 to present days.- History : At the end of 19th century Canadian illustrator and writer Palmer Cox...
from 1958 to the late 1960s. In total, her illustrations have been printed in more than 115 million books and postcards.
Applying watercolour, Indian ink and gouache in warm and gentle colours, she saw daily life through the eyes of a child. Her illustrations are detailed, yet with a simple and very light touch, and she showed the joy of being a child, even in an adult world that you do not always understand.
Marina Evgenevna continued the tradition of her grandfather Vasily Navozov, artist and Academy
Academy
An academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill, north of Athens, Greece. In the western world academia is the...
member, and for many years her life was connected to famous Moscow artist and academician Boris Uspensky
Boris Uspensky
Boris Andreyevich Uspensky is a Russian philologist and mythographer.Uspensky graduated from Moscow University in 1960. He delivered lectures in Moscow until 1982, but later moved on to work in Harvard University, Cornell University, Vienna University, and the University of Graz...
. Her art changed over time, but always in her very personal and highly recognisable style. From the late 1960s onwards she moved away from her classical realism into a more expressionistic and symbolic world.
From the late 1980s she watched, and was inspired by, the changes in everyday life happening in the transition from the
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to the new Russia. This was for example reflected in her colourful, often red or orange, images of the New Russian Women – as she called them – which she boldly and virtuously depicted in scenes from every-day life. Her favourite media in her later years was the colour pencil, with which she depicted daily life in Moscow, be it in the Moscow metro or
evenings at the theatre or the ballet.