ALEKSEI HANZEN (1876-1937) Dusk on the shore

signed ‘A. Hanzen’ (lower right) oil on canvas 72 x 103 cm Among Alexei Hanzen’s celebrated maritime works, his paintings of shorelines stand out for their subtle poetry and atmospheric detail. Grandson and pupil of Ivan Aivazovsky, Hanzen inherited a profound respect for the sea, most evident in his shore scenes—compositions that merge the serenity of nature with the quiet drama of ocean tides. The painting captures a magic time where land meets water. Unlike grand naval compositions or deep-ocean panoramas, these more intimate works highlight everyday coastal life: the glimmering light at sunrise or dusk, weathered fishing boats pulled up on the sands, villages tucked into cliffsides, and waves gently curling along pebble beaches. The Black Sea coastline of his childhood often served as inspiration, and his meticulous observation of its light and colour gives them a gentle realism that never feels cold. Hanzen’s romantic touch—seen in the soft pink light on water and the precise rendering of boats and piers—reflects both his European academic training and personal connection to the coastal scenes he once studied alongside Aivazovsky. Born on January 19 (New Style: January 31), 1876, in Odessa, Ukraine, Hanzen spent his childhood surrounded by the Black Sea. Frequent visits to Aivazovsky’s studio were formative, allowing him to absorb the master’s techniques and dedication to painting water, sky, and naval vessels. This intimate apprenticeship continued until 1900, laying the groundwork for his future in maritime art. Hanzen initially pursued legal studies at Imperial Novorossiya University in Odessa. In parallel, he trained at the Academies of Fine Arts in Berlin and Dresden, and furthered his studies in Munich and Paris. During this period, his work was shaped by the European academic tradition. From 1904 to 1912, during extended stays in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden, he developed an international reputation. Major exhibitions in Florence, Berlin, and Paris between 1907 and 1910 cemented his fame, with commissions reaching London and America. In 1909, Hanzen was officially appointed as the Naval Ministry’s artist, reinforcing his lifelong commitment to maritime themes. That same period saw him become a prominent art collector and advocate. His collection—nearly 400 works by artists such as Aivazovsky, Menier, Brodsky, and Vrubel—was instrumental in founding Odessa’s first public art museum in 1910. Throughout World War I and beyond, Hanzen remained devoted to naval themes, publishing a 1916 album of 48 works before emigrating in 1920. He continued painting in Zagreb and Dubrovnik until his death in 1937, earning international acclaim. Today, his seascapes—rooted in Aivazovsky’s legacy yet distinctly his own—are held in major museums and royal collections across Europe, including the Feodosia Art Gallery in Crimea, the Odessa Art Museum, and the royal collections of Italy, Croatia, and Romania.