The life of colour and shape

Come down, appear, oh red horse!
We'll arc to you – a rainbow,
The Arctic Circle – on the harness.
Oh, take out our Earth
On a different track.
S. Yesenin

Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin is an artist whose work, marked by the highest skill and spirituality, was an important milestone in the development of Russian art at the beginning of the twentieth century. He was a painter-thinker with a deeply developed moral sense. The artist proceeded from the idea of
art as a great transformative force capable of changing reality, overcoming everyday limitations and morally reviving humanity.

The exposition demonstrates the versatility of the master's creative interests. Reproductions of works of a wide variety of genres are presented – still lifes, portraits, landscapes, drawings and watercolors. The painting "Bathing of the Red Horse" attracts the eye, the reproduction of which conveys a strong inner energy. Petrov-Vodkin did not adhere to any of the trends that developed at that time, so his works are striking in their strangeness, some special originality, emotional brightness of images and dissimilarity with anything previously seen. The features of acute innovation appear in them simultaneously with strict traditionalism, the depth of philosophical thought is combined with solemn and elegant decorativeness.

A special place in the exhibition is given to still-lifes, the work on which attracted Petrov-Vodkin all his life. In the being of things, he revealed, as it were, a small image of the world, governed by the same laws that move the world of people and nature. In still-lifes, one of the most characteristic features of the master's work is manifested – a high spirituality, perhaps unparalleled in the art of the twentieth century.

Always irreconcilable to dullness, pettys-bourgeois everyday life, believing in man and in his high vocation to live on earth – such was this great artist.

In November, we also invite you to visit the "Vitebsk Renaissance" exposition, as well as exhibitions dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the calligrapher and teacher Pavel Semchenko and the 85th anniversary of the painter and graphic artist Zoya Litvinova.

The opening hours of the exhibition corresponds to the library’s opening hours.
Entrance to the exhibition is available by the library ticket or ticket of the library's social and cultural centre.

Phone for inquiries: +37517 293 27 53.

The material is provided by the service department of specialized funds.