DOI issue:
Nr. 194 (May 1909)
DOI article:Studio-talk
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20966#0354
Studio- Talk
MOSCOW.—This year’s ex-
hibition of the “Soyouz,”
or Union of Russian
Artists, which was in-
stalled in the fine spacious rooms
of what was once a private palace,
may be considered to have been,
on che whole, a most successful
event. This estimate holds good
more especially of the figure com-
positions and portraits, for the land-
scape painters, while quantitatively
well represented, offered little of
conspicuous note from an artistic
point of view and by no means
formed the centre of attraction on
this occasion.
ground. L. Pasternak was exceptionally well repre-
sented as a painter this year, and in the entire
oeuvre of this artist are to be found few portraits so-
monumental in conception and so genuinely beau-
tiful in colour as his portrait of Madame O. G.
Among other subjects his interesting auto-portrait
should be named, as well as a fine historic genre
picture of the period of Peter the Great. B. Kus-
todieff, who has hitherto not always joined artistic
perception with his great technical facility, showed
marked progress in his portrait of an abbess and
in his market scenes. The same may be said of
Tarkhoff, a painter who lives in Paris; his some-
what insistent facture is now less pronounced, and
his figure paintings, representing domestic scenes,
are expressive of much inner fervour and quiet joy
of colour. Repin junior sent an interesting little
family portrait.
Of three portraits contributed by
the painter Seroff, his double portrait
of two noted Moscow actors gave
the least satisfaction, but in that of
a lady of Oriental type this artist
reached his highest point, in spite
of the somewhat violent juxtaposi-
tion of a cushion of bright red and
dark blue constituting the back-
328
PORTRAIT OF MADAME O. G.
plished the best portrait of the German Empress
existing, a work full of dignified bearing which
brings out beautifully the qualities of superior
womanhood ripened in an atmosphere of stern
self-control. The portrait of the Princess Louise
Victoria represents happily “ sweet seventeen,"
with roguishness concealed beneath languor. A
breath of rococo freshness wafts from the new7
decorative portraits of the Crown Prince and the
Crown Princess, w7hich betray no embellishing
intention, merely the will to bring out youthful
elasticity. _
The Konigliche Ivunstgewerbe Museum has been
treating lovers of Japanese art to an exhibition
of the treasures in the possession of Consul Mosle.
Within the stylish arrangement of real Japanese
interiors we had a rare occasion to study exquisite
weapons, armour, cabinets, writ-
ing-cases and wood-cuts. Refined
taste and the eye of the connoisseur
of marvellous techniques controlled
the selection, and the result w'as to
again strongly impress one with the
superiority of Eastern arts and
crafts. J. J.
BY L. PASTERNAK,
MOSCOW.—This year’s ex-
hibition of the “Soyouz,”
or Union of Russian
Artists, which was in-
stalled in the fine spacious rooms
of what was once a private palace,
may be considered to have been,
on che whole, a most successful
event. This estimate holds good
more especially of the figure com-
positions and portraits, for the land-
scape painters, while quantitatively
well represented, offered little of
conspicuous note from an artistic
point of view and by no means
formed the centre of attraction on
this occasion.
ground. L. Pasternak was exceptionally well repre-
sented as a painter this year, and in the entire
oeuvre of this artist are to be found few portraits so-
monumental in conception and so genuinely beau-
tiful in colour as his portrait of Madame O. G.
Among other subjects his interesting auto-portrait
should be named, as well as a fine historic genre
picture of the period of Peter the Great. B. Kus-
todieff, who has hitherto not always joined artistic
perception with his great technical facility, showed
marked progress in his portrait of an abbess and
in his market scenes. The same may be said of
Tarkhoff, a painter who lives in Paris; his some-
what insistent facture is now less pronounced, and
his figure paintings, representing domestic scenes,
are expressive of much inner fervour and quiet joy
of colour. Repin junior sent an interesting little
family portrait.
Of three portraits contributed by
the painter Seroff, his double portrait
of two noted Moscow actors gave
the least satisfaction, but in that of
a lady of Oriental type this artist
reached his highest point, in spite
of the somewhat violent juxtaposi-
tion of a cushion of bright red and
dark blue constituting the back-
328
PORTRAIT OF MADAME O. G.
plished the best portrait of the German Empress
existing, a work full of dignified bearing which
brings out beautifully the qualities of superior
womanhood ripened in an atmosphere of stern
self-control. The portrait of the Princess Louise
Victoria represents happily “ sweet seventeen,"
with roguishness concealed beneath languor. A
breath of rococo freshness wafts from the new7
decorative portraits of the Crown Prince and the
Crown Princess, w7hich betray no embellishing
intention, merely the will to bring out youthful
elasticity. _
The Konigliche Ivunstgewerbe Museum has been
treating lovers of Japanese art to an exhibition
of the treasures in the possession of Consul Mosle.
Within the stylish arrangement of real Japanese
interiors we had a rare occasion to study exquisite
weapons, armour, cabinets, writ-
ing-cases and wood-cuts. Refined
taste and the eye of the connoisseur
of marvellous techniques controlled
the selection, and the result w'as to
again strongly impress one with the
superiority of Eastern arts and
crafts. J. J.
BY L. PASTERNAK,