Acquaintance to A.M.Gerasimov

Written by С.Г.Архипов

The teacher of Kozlovsky commercial school Nikolay Arkadevich Bubnov was the big fan of painting, copied much, and then began to work independently and has reached good results, especially in a pastel. He was familiar for a long time with A.M.Gerasimovym and was with him in friendly relations. Here he also has acquainted me with Alexander Mihajlovich in 1918 after that has returned from front. We began to happen each other. Was much in common in tastes.
Acquaintance it was for me rather important. He at that time was already quite developed master and very interesting person. And I during that time was 21 year old and though I considered myself too as already skilled person, smelt front and something seen, Alexander Mihajlovicha's influence affected me. At that time I took a great interest in impressionism, loved and studied Russian iconography and wrote as the symbolist. However loved and appreciated Rylova, Tourist's Zhansky, Zhukovsky, and having learnt Gerasimov, has grown fond also of it. Under its influence I began to depart considerably from symbolism, have started to work more on the nature. Interestingly that Alexander Mihajlovich never spoke to me of anything negative about my works, but, nevertheless, I have started to leave from symbolism to realism, began to understand that it is necessary many and to study and work persistently.
And to learn at Alexander Mihajlovich it was possible for much, simply looking, as he worked.
Approximately at this time and to it the commune "Creativity" has been organised. The structure of this commune included basically participants of our first exhibition. Some words about the most interesting members of this commune Would be desirable to tell.
Perhaps, Sergey Maslennikov, unfortunately, early died most promised... At the first exhibition he has been presented only by copies. After a trip to Moscow he, it is possible to tell, has begun to see clearly and has started to work talently and in an original way. Well felt the nature. It was the born impressionist typical, so to say.
Nikolay Savchenko, the first-year student of institute of civil engineers, the fine draughtsman, in good style, the quiet and lovely person, and also N.A.Bubnov whom I already mentioned went to a commune. Here there were A.A.Kirpichev, ampere-second. Barkovsky, I.S.Shmelev.
Artists with the finished art education were communitarians also: brothers of Schepkiny and D.R.Panin, the fine lyrical landscape writer. Subsequently he worked together with Gerasimov in Moscow much. Some its works now are in Michurinsk museum of local lore, memorial estate And. M.Gerasimov. Among communitarians there was also Romanov-fast walkers.
Sergey Sergeevich Varsonofev... About him it would be necessary to write separately. It was the fine artist and the teacher. Where he worked, he always was on the place. The draughtsman, the caricaturist, the set dresser, the genre painter... And. M.Gerasimov especially appreciated its gift of a composition. It was fine soul the person... Many of present artists to it are obliged.
The commune has located in a drawing office of commercial school. This office has been perfectly organised, as, however, and all offices of this school. A spacious angular office on the third floor, individual lecterns are located by an amphitheatre, it is a lot of plasters and drawings from Academy of arts. In a word, only study. Helped us and an is art-industrial museum, mainly, the stamp and the press.
Alexander Mihajlovich was the person the business and good organizer. When the question on a premise has been solved, there was a question on materials, therefore Gerasimov has organised a trip to Moscow.
It is necessary to notice that in those days such trip was business not simple. The special permission Was required. On return journey to Goats we received the admission in the Kremlin. Have gone three together - Gerasimov, Maslennikov and I. Business trip was in Proletkult where we have received ideological gymnastics, and paints have got at Losekin in fair quantity.
Just at this time there was a question on celebrating of first anniversary of October revolution. All organisation of registration has incurred And. M.Gerasimov: has extracted materials - a canvas, stretchers, glutinous paints, say, all necessary. In a drawing office of commercial school work on registration of celebrating of first anniversary of October has begun. Finally it looked so. On a balcony of present polyclinic the big poster of work of Alexander Mihajlovich "Smiths", very effective, in wide Gerasimov's manner; on a balcony of musical school - the vertical big poster - the person with a five-pointed board; on a face wall of the former grammar school - the poster in half of all wall - freedom, equality and a brotherhood. Many smaller posters and slogans on wide Soviet (then there was no monument to Lenin and parkway). At theatre over a scene in all width a decorative panel "Stepan Razin" of work A.M.Gerasimov, bright, colourful, the made is masterful. Besides, it had been executed Charles Marx's bust in height about 1,5 m. Moulded and its Alexander Mihajlovich at home cast, therefrom all communitarians have transferred it into place and have established on a high wooden pedestal. The bust has been established about the Pokrovsk cathedral, there at that time there was an equal platform where he has staid up to invasion of Mamontov.
Alexander Mihajlovicha's working capacity was inexhaustible, it is possible to judge it at least to that he has organised and has performed all listed works on registration, but in passing has still written fine big full-scale a portrait of the sister - in-law a water colour and an etude of a market from a window of a drawing office.
Subsequently the commune has moved in the house of Kalmykov and was transformed to studio over which S.S.Varsonofev supervised.
In 1919 I have entered Red Army and have returned in Goats from Southern front in 1921. Me have demobilised as the former student for education continuation. In 1922 we, Alexander Mihajlovich and I, have met again and have organised in the spring an exhibition "Sagittarius".
At this exhibition Alexander Mihajlovich has taken, of course, the main place. He has given illustrations to Gogol, portraits, a spring landscape and many other good works, among them a water colour "Three" which now is in the Tambov art gallery. The catalogue of this exhibition has remained.
Alexander Mihajlovich carried away me the bright talent, in width of picturesque temperament, the love for our nature. It was the realist irreconcilable, not inclined to any compromises. In him this realism clothed in the poetic form, touched the simplicity and clearness. He at that time has written a picture «Oblique meadow», a format wide, stack oblique hay, on a background forest. Very simple plot, but with what love the picture has been made! Not without reason the ancient spoke: «Simplicity - the true press».
Or to take its blossoming gardens - «Bees hoot». Better the name and not to think up. Really, you will look and you will tell: «And after all the truth - hoot». He and small, but such lovely details, as, for example, loved a trace from a running water spider on a reservoir surface. Or still - on a table costs widely, strong written bouquet of wild flowers, and on a cloth - a speck. You will look narrowly - a bumblebee! It is possible to manage, apparently, and without a bumblebee, at once it after all and you will not notice, but what this summer without bumblebees!
Gerasimov looked at the world greedy eyes: as though to transfer it, as though to remember its beauty. Summer. We bathe on the river. Result horses to bathe. Alexander Mihajlovich lights up - screw up one's eyes. «Sergey Georgievich (it to me), sit down for God's sake astride this, on red, allow to look!« I sit on a horse, he goes around, on the person at him pleasure. Well, directly to write it. Here only painter's case is not present. I sit, overcome flies, hot, «Alexander Mihajlovich, can, enough?» - «Wait a little more, call in more deeply, still slightly!»
It was simply impossible to refuse such cases to it, so much it delivered it pleasures and pleasures. However, got not to me to one, got as well D.R.Paninu.
Alexander Mihajlovich was the great worker. If not behind an easel all the same, in thoughts he works, looks, so - works. Greedy was before work.
These years A.M.Gerasimov lived in Michurinsk then still Kozlov, and I studied in Moscow, we therefore saw him only on a vacation, mainly, in the summer. Somehow in June I sit at myself in a room (in Moscow) on 3rd Neopalimovsky, suddenly - knock at a door. I look - visitors, Alexander Mihajlovich and Panin, with voluminous enough and heavy luggage. Luggage - pictures and etudes on a cardboard and a solid pack of water colours, illustrations to «Taras Bulba», and on a cardboard - etudes to it. He wrote them from actors of the Ukrainian troupe which went on tour in Kozlov. «Well, how, it is possible to stop at you?» - asks. - «What a question! It is possible, even with comfort». Alexander Mihajlovich I arrange on a sofa, D.R.Panina - on a back from a sofa which for this purpose is put on chairs, a dinner we prepare, say, better and you will not think up.
The next day we have brought Alexander Mihajlovicha's works to Giljarovsky with which I have got acquainted at this time. About Giljarovsky I will not write, because this fine, the sincere person is known also for the books, and on memoirs of many writers. Acquaintance it remains at me in memory, as one of bright and expensive.
The summer in Moscow stood roast, closeness day and night. In the evenings we usually went three together to the Moskva River near to the New maiden monastery (from me it was close), and there long bathed, and is more true, sat in water. Then came back already late, hours per eleven, drank tea. Spoke and argued, of course, about painting and art. To sleep laid down late. Alexander Mihajlovich with us has not gone To one of such evenings when we with Panin gathered for the river: «you, children, go, and I will go here in one place. I when left, the address has left houses, I think, can, the letter from the house is». The kind at him was any boring. We with Panin as usually, have bathed, have slowly come, have boiled tea. A little also Alexander Mihajlovich strongly upset later has come. "What is the matter?" - we ask. - «The telegramme has received. The brother has died, it is necessary to go». Next day we have left in Goats.
Year for three to death Alexander Mihajlovich has arrived to Michurinsk and has called the friends on pancakes. Behind a table he has recollected this case. «You know, then at me directly the presentiment was any, pushed me there to go. Here also has received the telegramme».