YURI VASNETSOV (1900-1973) Zagorsk, 1945

signed in Cyrillic ‘Y Vasnetsov’ (lower right) oil on canvas 63 x 76 cm Yuri Alekseevich Vasnetsov (1900–1973) Russian Soviet artist and graphic artist specialising in children’s book illustration. Vasnetsov was related to Viktor and Apollinary Vasnetsov. In 1921, he enrolled in the Painting Department at the State Higher Art and Architecture School (later VKHUTEMAS), after which he studied under Malevich at GINHUK. From 1932 to 1934, he was a postgraduate student at the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture at the USSR Academy of Arts. He also studied under I. E. Braz, K. S. Petrov-Vodkin and N. E. Radlov. After graduating in 1926, he began working with the children's and youth literature department of the State Publishing House. Under the artistic guidance of V. V. Lebedev, he found his niche in interpreting the themes and images of Russian folklore and fairy tales. In the 1930s, he gained fame for his illustrations of tne books by P. I. Kriizha, K. I. Chukovsky and L. I. Tolstoy. During this period, he also created colourful and captivating lithographic prints for children based on familiar story motifs. In 1979, a retrospective exhibition of Yuri Vasnetsov's works was held at the State Russian Museum. His works are represented in the collections of major Russian museums, including the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, and the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.