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Leonid Kuznetsov. New Arrivals

Leonid Kuznetsov (1928-2007). Oils and graphics

13.01.2012 — 20.01.2012

Leonid Kuznetsov

Leonid Trofimovich Kuznetzov was born in 1928 in a small village Ganino of the Gorkovskaya region. In 1949 Kuznetzov graduated from the Gorkovskoe Art College and was accepted into National State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow. Along the path he had different mentors, namely such famous artists as: Jurii Pimenov, Fedor Bogorodskii, Joseph Shpinel and Boris Dubrovskii-Eshke. All these people significantly influenced the artistic style and upbringing of Leonid Kuznetzov.

His diploma work captured a scene from the Soviet movie "The Icy Sea" (1955-56) received high recognition and was considered to be one of the finest works by the evaluation committee. After graduating with honors from the institute he Kuznetzov became a member of the Union of Artists and began his work at the MosFilm movie studio.

From his very first drawings in his childhood Kuznetzov showed remarkable talent for drawing portraits - he was able to capture the form and mood with great attention to detail and color. Thanks to his friendship with the master of the animalistic studio Georgii Nikolskii he learned to capture the natural beauty of any wild animal. In those days he also spent a great deal of time working on sketches and drawings of fairy tale characters. He participated in the cartoon projects of the DiaFilm movie studio such as: "Bambie", "White Fang", "The Badger's Nose" and others.

Kuznetzov had the opportunity to use his talent for drawing animals later on in life while working on illustrations for different books for the publishers "Pravda" and "Detskaya Literatura". He participated in 3 international book exhibitions where he was awarded a silver diploma for his work on the special gift editions of books by V. Arseniev and M. Prishvin.

The artist also tried his hand at the printing genre - amongst his more interesting works are the series "A View of the Red Square" and "The Moscow Kremlin".

But his best works are dedicated to nature. From small sketches and book illustrations to lyrical landscapes and ethnographic paintings, where he is the master of all techniques: pencil and aquarelle, gouache and oils - his number one theme is nature. To gain spiritual inspiration Kuznetzov made trips to Kareliya and the Polar Urals, Altai and Primorskii region. It was there that he gained new strength and enriched his imagination.

The Moscow Museum of Paleontology ordered several paintings from Leonid Kuznetzov which are immensely valuable and their reproductions can be found in many books, albums and photo collections.

Welcome to our Anniversary Year - 2012!

In November 1992, NB Gallery opened its doors for the first time at 6/2, Sivtsev Vrazhek Lane, being one of the very few first Post-perestroika private galleries. Since then many places in Moscow had changed their addresses, their staff, many disappeared. NB is still here, in the center of one of the oldest capitals in the world. Staging great exhibitions, discovering forgotten Soviet artists, bringing beautiful artworks from all the parts of the ex-USSR: Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Belarus...

Four exhibitions devoted to the history of NB Gallery will be staged this year.

Please join us for the first one

OUR FIRST SIX YEARS - 1992-1998

DON'T MISS the exhibitions of Russian Realist artists in The Tretyakov Gallery this winter:

December 16, 2011 - February 26, 2012 - Elena Polenova. To the 160th anniversary.

Elena Polenova (1850 - 1898) - painter, sister of famous Russian artist Vasily Polenov.

She was the one who formed the national romantic trend of Russian Art Nouveau and symbolism. You will see not only paintings and drawings, but brilliant book graphics and objects of decorative and applied arts made by artist or based on her studies.

December 15, 2011 - April 8, 2012 - Valentin Serov. Life line. Drawings from collection of The State Tretyakov Gallery.

Valentin Serov (1865 - 1911) - key-person of Russian art on the turn of the 19th - 20th century. Drawing takes special place in his art. The display will include about 250 pastels, temperas, sanguines, charcoals,watercolours and artist's engravings. Exhibition shows the artist's evolution and gives a possibility to follow his work from the beginning till the end.

..."It was during this visit I realized that his graphics will make the first exhibit in the future NB Gallery. The gallery-plan was ambitious and it makes me smile that we actually are approaching our 20th Anniversary. The Rozhdestvensky exhibit was opened in 1992 in the gallery's premises".

Natalia Bykova

Natalia Bykova Greeting Letter

Issue 7. Autumn 2011
Issue 6. Summer 2011
Issue 5. Spring 2011
Issue 4. Leningrad Legacy
Issue 3. Riga Symphony
Issue 2. Autumn 2010
Issue 1. Summer 2010