A.N.Jar-Kravchenko's letter to A.M.Gerasimov

Dear Alexander Mihajlovich!
We with you were never especially close, but me, as well as you, destinies of our art, tradition of great realistic Russian school and selfless love of Russian artists to native art are very expensive. And consequently I with the big and good feeling always concerned you — to the artist of the big temperament, the remarkable organizer allocated with the nature by the state mind, and the warm person.
Pass, when the art public solemnly celebrated 200-year-old anniversary of Academy of arts, I, sitting in meeting presidium, listening within an hour to an indifferent voice from a tribune which told something about Academy of arts.
In the report it has not been named the names of pupils of the Academy which have received in its walls realistic education and nowadays the centre Soviet fine arts. It it has been convincingly told about the organisation of the Soviet Academy of arts, about that big role which the Academy has played, having put on a correct way business of education and, thereof, given to the country competent, professionally strong, standing on strong realistic feet, artists. In this unique activity should mention those Soviet artists whom the efforts and energy have directed many to business of the organisation of the Soviet Academy of arts. And among them the first place by right and deservedly belongs to you, dear Alexander Mihajlovich!
In the report it is not told almost about an intense way of struggle against a formalism, with different stuntings, which took place in due time at us. Having familiarised with exhibitions in Venice and at VI World festival in Moscow, we have seen, in what have resulted all these "inventions" in the West: the school and ability has disappeared, amateurish demands for art individuality are shown. When you look these exhibitions, you the despondency and feeling of a hopelessness seizes. And today, when we are proud of our purposeful, clear, realistic art when it is necessary to address to the world with the offer to organise a world's fair of artists-realists which are available in each country, today, when it is necessary to lift above still a banner of our healthy art, especially it would be desirable to hear from a solemn, anniversary tribune names of irreconcilable fighters and founders of the Soviet fine arts and in the first row your name, dear Alexander Mihajlovich!
Sitting almost near to you, and then встретя you alone going home, I have felt a burning pain and shame for a human ingratitude and severe injustice. And I to tears wanted so simply, humanly to tell to you that you are not lonely that it only seemed that there are many pure, good people, both in art, and out of it which very much love you. Alexander Mihajlovich expensive, the great artist, the tireless worker and the public figure, which voice we have got used to hear since student's years to which we always trusted, we trust and we will trust. The big, warm thanks, the Russian athlete! For pure and clear realistic art fair people of our culture always will highly appreciate and remember your tireless struggle. And on the eve of New Year from the bottom of the heart I wish you kind health, good creative state of health and the big success in that difficult, ungrateful, but a noble cause to which you have devoted the big half of life.
I congratulate and believe that New Year will be year of a celebration of justice.
My congratulations happy New Year and wishes of all of the best transfer to your family.
With warm greetings, A.Jar-Kravchenko Mountain Nikolina, on December, 30th 1957г.