Pictures of Konstantin Vasilyev are known far fromeverybody. The works of the Soviet masters did not receive recognition in the artistic environment of that time. External calmness, a certain coldness of colors behind which the bottomless depth is hidden, layering and symbolism - a similar description is equally suitable both for Vasiliev’s paintings and for his short life.
Like all of us, Konstantin Vasilyev received a lot andmanaged to develop thanks to his parents. His father, Alexey Alekseevich Vasilyev, was from a family of workers, went through three wars, after the revolution he became a member of the Bolshevik Party, and held senior positions in production. Mother Konstantin, Claudia Parmenovna Shishkina, from an intelligent family. His erudition, his father’s honesty, his ability to work, as well as his mother’s tenderness and education helped the future artist to develop a special understanding of life, learn to see the great in the small and not be content with only a superficial understanding of things.
Constantine was born on September 3, 1942 in Maykop.Somewhat later, Aleksei Alekseevich and his family were transferred to Krasnodar, and after the war, to Kazan. A few years later they moved to the village of Vasilyevo, located near Kazan, on the left bank of the Volga. The nature of these places for a long time fed and inspired the future master.
Constantine from an early age began to draw.The merit of his parents was that at such a difficult time they did not lose sight of the boy’s talent, did not give up, but decided to give him the opportunity to develop. Konstantin studied at the Moscow Art School, graduated from the Kazan Art School.
A rare artist immediately finds his onlyand unique, style. First, the future master goes over the options known and close to him. That was the artist Vasilyev Konstantin. Pictures of the period of its formation reflect the search for a special voice and style. Constantine was fond of abstractionism and surrealism, some of his first works contain elements of explicit imitation. He quickly moved away from these directions, without finding the desired depth in them.
Thanks to the creative search came to lightsuch paintings by Konstantin Vasilyev as "String", "Ascension", "Apostle" (they belong to the style of surrealism), as well as "Quartet", "Sadness of the Queen", "Icon of Memory" and others (style - expressionism).
A bottomless source of inspiration for the artistthere was nature. Soon after a certain saturation with expressionism, Vasiliev turned to landscape sketches. Gradually, the constant inner work gave its fruits: the master understood what the artist Vasilyev Konstantin should be. His paintings will carry the beauty and power of all life to people.
The work of the artist's thoughts was fed not onlyclassical education and the beauty of nature. Since childhood, Konstantin read Russian epics and stories about heroic deeds with great pleasure. The works of great writers, such as F. M. Dostoevsky, A. S. Pushkin, F. I. Tyutchev, contributed to the development of the artist’s worldview.
Music has become a huge source of inspiration.Some paintings by Konstantin Vasilyev illustrate the works of great masters. He created a graphic series of works for the opera “The Nibelungen Ring” by Richard Wagner, portraits of great composers: Shostakovich, Rimsky-Korsakoy, Beethoven, Scriabin.
For some time Konstantin himself created music.He recorded various sounds in the forest: the crackling of ice, the crunch of dry leaves, the singing of birds, and sometimes he echoed them with his voice. At home, he transformed the recording with the help of twisting, transforming and pasting sections of tape. It turned out the so-called specific music, as the style appeared in the middle of the last century.
Sound experiments were reflected in the picturesConstantine. For this period of his life, there is the appearance of abstract sketches, the search for "his" white, which will eventually end with the creation of a special silver hue, characteristic of the artist's works.
Nothing passes for nothing.Passion for abstract art taught Konstantin Vasilyev to build clear structures, skillfully managed with lines and color spots. Surrealism helped find countless shades, scales and combinations for future masterpieces. Interest in Slavic and Scandinavian mythology, a subtle understanding of music, from classical to modern trends, filled graphic images with a deep meaning, inner light.
Perhaps the pinnacle of landscape artistcan be considered paintings "Autumn" and "Forest Gothic." Everything in them, from composition to color gamut, is subordinated to one goal: to convey the spirituality, strength and beauty of nature. "Forest Gothic" Vasiliev bears the imprint of the Northern Renaissance. At first glance, the usual landscape with a game of colors draws the viewer along and allows you to see the temple in the usual trees, the eternal struggle between good and evil and the inexorable striving of life towards light.
The hidden message, the subtext is practically onall the paintings of the artist. "Northern Eagle", "Waiting", "Marshal Zhukov", "Unexpected meeting" and many other works at a cursory examination seem to be a simple recording of events, but they always cling to something, make you return, look closer and see the essence.
Pictures of Konstantin Vasilyev were not recognized eitherthe highest ranks of the country, nor critics. The plots of his works were not recognized as complying with Soviet ideology and even calling for Russian fascism. Professional artists did not see Vasilyev's usual methods, the observance of certain canons, and therefore often referred him to the number of amateurs. However, the few exhibitions that were able to organize during the artist's life aroused considerable interest among the common people. The delight of the spectators inspired Vasiliev.
The most famous work of the author was written andthe very last. The result of many years of searching and comprehending was the painting “A Man with an Owl,” written by the artist several days before his death. The symbolic content of the canvas today is often interpreted precisely in connection with the death of the artist. Had he foreseen his doom, and was that why he had placed his name on a burning scroll? Did you not feel that fame would come to him after death? Answer these questions is unlikely to succeed.
If we consider the picture in the vein of the precedingworks, it is easy to notice its consonance to the previous creations of the author. Fire is a symbol of rebirth, creative power and inspiration; a young tree is an eternal desire for development, for light and life. The candle is the flame of the soul, and the owl is the wisdom, the impartial vision. “A man with an owl” is an affirmation of life as a constant development.
A few days after paintingKonstantin Vasilyev died. It happened on October 29, 1976. The official version was shot down by train. The family and many admirers of the artist disagree that the death of Constantine was accidental. Until then, the circumstances of the death of the master remain unclear.
Картины Константина Васильева с названиями и dates are easy to find in the vast network. You can see the artist's works in museums in Moscow and Kazan. Paintings Vasiliev worth it to overcome a considerable distance. They say the impression of them can not be compared with anything.
