Word about the fellow countryman

Written by В.Н. Толпинский

One of the greatest streets in Michurinsk once was called as Lebedjansky. Now she bears Alexander Gerasimov's name. If you arrive for the first time to a city and will visit in this street, not only its old residents, but also each schoolboy will tell a lot of interesting about the fellow countryman. They by all means will show the ancient two-storeyed house with a brick fence and massive collars where the childhood of the artist which he constantly visited lives till last days proceeded. Others will recollect about personal meetings and heart-to-heart talks. Well and, of course, without pride name one remarkable picture created by a hand of the first class master.
This awareness is completely not casual. Alexander Mihajlovich was the true patriot of the Native land. But it fed any special quivering love for Tambovshchine, to vast open spaces of its fields and woods. Being the venerable artist and living in Moscow, it always to a limit has been engaged in by creative and public affairs. But also during this time did not suppose thought that some times in year not to visit native places. It concerned the fellow countrymen with deep respect and gratitude. And they paid to it in the same.

The big role in Gerasimov's further destiny Michurinsk, gifted artist Sergey Ivanovich Krivolutsky has played arrived in the beginning of 1900th years in were Goats, and now. Having familiarised with works of the young man it has told resolutely:
— The spark Divine at you is. If you will extinguish it is you will make a fatal mistake. It is necessary to study. To study persistently...
Telling about the first instructor, about years of study in Moscow in school of sculpturing and architecture under the direction of outstanding masters of painting of Serova and Arhipov, about participation in large exhibitions, Gerasimov often exclaimed:
— Tell how not to love, please, to me native Michurinsk. The road from here begins...
And it did not change this love. From first days of Great October till 1925 in spite of the fact that time and again invited in capital, the artist could not leave a native city in any way. This period - bright, unforgettable page in formation of skill of the artist.
Communicating with new people, the young artist full of a creative power understood that art cannot stand away from a life. It should serve the people which have become by the full owner of land. At the initiative of Alexander Mihajlovicha in a city «the Commune of association of artists» has been created. Its members wrote slogans, a panel, political posters on a theme of day. The success of work was huge. Crowds of people gathered about buildings, on walls of some the bright panels displaying the most topical events hung. They urged the people to restore the destroyed economy, to struggle with deserters, angrily and sharply derided external and internal enemies of young Soviet republic.
Soon in Kozlove cultural establishments have opened some: clubs of builders of a name of Maxim Gorkogo, railwaymen of a name of Sverdlova, Charles Marx's name. Communitarians have much worked at their registration: portrait of leaders, legendary commanders and all same colourful posters which served as the fighting weapon of struggle new with old painted.
Some national houses have opened in neighbouring villages: Zavoronezhsky, Borshchevom, Gromushke. Artists have looked after and them. It was hard to work. In premises there was a cold. Paints stiffened. Materials was not. But, having found for a sacking piece, artists were accepted for good reason. Sometimes stayed over registration night without a break. And by the morning there was the new picture, telling language of paints about great changes, happened in a country life.
In days of revolutionary holidays of a city street have been decked by bright red buntings. On the former merchant houses it is proud the huge panels glorifying approach of a new epoch which promises to the released mankind the present happiness towered. On long panels huge letters had been wrote fighting slogans. They called the people for rallying, to unity, to tireless struggle for the light future.


I personally very often could meet the artist in days of war. Coming to Michurinsk, it first of all came into edition. In the evenings a free minute of many friends and acquaintances invited to sit «behind a samovar» at home.
Each such meeting scarred. Alexander Mihajlovich was the person of wide erudition. Told brightly, figuratively, amazed all with the surprising memory.
— Listen, my darlings as in the childhood I with children in the night went, — it began a pleasant melodious voice...
But the amusing episode about trips in night was only a springboard to an uneasy narration about the remote past, about human destinies. In a childhood too the destiny did not indulge Alexander Gerasimov. The father - Michael Sofronovich, the person of "strict rules», was cattle dealer — the buyer of cattle. He tried to attach to "business" and the son. But, as they say in the people, the harm without good does not happen. Constant dialogue with simple people, affinity to the nature, have woken up thin poetic feeling in his soul. It also has served as the first reason of passionate desire to become the painter. The teenager told to nobody about the treasured dream. But in increasing frequency, having retired somewhere to a secluded place, it did the first sketches on a sheet of paper.
On the eve of the first October anniversary Alexander Mihajlovich has aimed to cast Charles Marx's big bust from plaster. Some days and were spent sleepless nights by it over this laborious and difficult work. Much should be altered anew to achieve accuracy of execution, to create a bright and convincing image of the founder of the doctrine about building of a communistic society.
Some years prior to revolution in Kozlove have opened drama theatre. The local nobility was its visitors: noblemen, merchants and an insignificant part of exclusive officials. Visitors actors put here plays of insignificant authors with any mysterious and mysterious names, calculated on the limited interests of local public.
Now theatre doors have been widely opened for the new spectator — the worker, the Red Army man, the ordinary employee. They came here after intense day of work: in special clothes, overcoats, simple house suits, to the full filling a capacious hall. It was the most grateful, most sympathetic spectator. Its culture, maybe, was not at high level. But all interior he was able to distinguish the truth from falseness, hotly to love real heroes, courageous, brave and strong spirit, and to hate pity insignificant people from «the leaving world».
During that time at theatre the good troupe has been hammered together. Here, for example, within several years one of talented actors of Russian peripheral scene Pavel Nikolaevich Orlenev worked. As the set dresser in theatre have invited Alexander Mihajlovicha Gerasimov. It undertook this new business with huge energy.
— I know, my work is how much important, — the artist spoke. — the success of performance in many respects depends on skilfully executed scenery. And at theatre presently the big future. It should become an advanced culture conductor.
Many inhabitants Michurinska and now recollect the best performances going on a scene of local theatre those years. Especially big impression remains from «Tarasa of Potatoes» Gogol. When the curtain has risen and actors have not told still any word, all looks of spectators rushed on scenery. Before them the free Ukrainian landscape opened. The artist has not stinted paints. Their brightness and sunniness with special force expressed beauty of the nature, opened its riches.
True blossoming of talent of Alexander Mihajlovicha Gerasimov has come in premilitary years. Everyone who had to happen at art exhibitions in the Tretyakov gallery, in other largest halls of capital, long admired its still-lifes, landscapes and portraits.
Who does not remember, for example, remarkable pictures «Lenin on a tribune» and «the Oldest Russian artists». Not without reason both of them have been awarded the State award.
Alexander Mihajlovich was not only the great artist, but also the large public figure. Many years it was the president of Academy of arts. Workers of Uvarovsky election district of the Tambov region selected its deputy of the Supreme body of RSFSR twice.
And again I am come back to memory by unforgettable meetings of the outstanding master of art with the fellow countrymen...
The second time workers of area named its candidate of the Supreme body of RSFSR. Having convinced in practice of its close connection with the people, in its ability to stand for interests of workers, they have decided to render again it high trust.
The spacious hall of regional club could not contain all interested persons. The huge crowd of the people remained in the street. Here the pre-election meeting was broadcast by radio.
One after another there were on a tribune collective farmers, working the local enterprises, representatives of intelligency. All of them told about a close connection of the deputy with voters. Spoke about the successes, about needs.
Attentively listened present simple, exciting speech of the candidate. He spoke about greatness of our Native land, about noble and tireless struggle of the freedom-loving people for happiness on the earth, for strong and a lasting peace all over the world.
— Tell, where it can be, that simple people of work hand in hand with scientists, figures of the literature and art went to realisation of the treasured purpose, — the artist spoke. — only in our country it is possible, where hearts of all people fight together. Having thrown an uneasy look present, it continued:
— I, the Soviet artist, strong love our expensive Fatherland. It is powerful and stately. Vast and fertile fields of native Tambovshchiny are especially expensive to me. So she let grows rich every day on pleasure to us, to spite of enemies of the world!
It were words of the true patriot, the person, is boundless betrayed to the country, the people. And present have answered them with an ovation.
After Alexander Mihajlovicha's meeting the group of collective farmers, youth, children has surrounded. Everyone had questions, the thoughts. The artist attentively listened to them, in turn, asking on collective-farm affairs, about rural news.
... The grey-bearded old man of years has entered Into a small room of board of club шестидесятипяти. In hands it held parcel accurately rolled up in a tube.
— With the request to you, Alexander Mihajlovich, — has told it. — Vnuchok at me is. In the seventh class studies. To drawing the big love at it. Who knows, can, and the sense leaves. Has decided to consult...
The artist has developed a parcel and long, attentively considered pictures of the boy.
— Look, how it is well made! — he has told, addressing to the present. — the main thing — from nature. And paints are truly put. It is visible, the fellow well feels the surrounding. Having kept silent a little, Alexander Mihajlovich continued:
— Now, of course, for it the main thing — to receive the general education. Without knowledge presently far you will not leave. First of all — to study. And it is impossible to forget favourite business. Let each free minute gives to drawing. And there the life will specify road to it.

Saying goodbye to the old man, the artist has given it the address and has asked to send new works of the boy necessarily.
— Warm with you gratitude, — strong shaking hands with the artist, the old man with emotion spoke.
— For what gratitude... It is my debt. Unless it is possible to hide the knowledge, on the experience I know. Without the help and a piece of good advice in people you will not leave.
It was visible that this meeting with the old man has involuntarily caused in the artist of memoirs on the remote past. He long and fascinatingly told about with what work it was necessary to it to make the way «in people», how many sorrows and pleasures have tested on noble, but a difficult way.
— Firmness and will have gained, — he spoke. — and if was surrender, would be frightened of the difficulties, no talent would help. Other business — during our time. If the person presented and energetic — clear road lies before it.
... When we left club, and in the street already grew dark, in collective-farm log huts bright electric fires were lighted. At the big stone building with wide windows over which doors the red panel with an inscription hung: "Polling district" it was especially crowded. On all vicinity the fighting fervent song was carried: Along village, from a log hut and to a log hut, hasty columns Have walked...
Alexander Mihajlovich, affably smiling after a cheerful crowd of youth, has told:
— The happy people! — and then, crafty having winked, has added: — Anything, I it too the coeval!
In Moscow in the street Levitan there is a beautiful, buried in verdure private residence. Here till last days there lived Alexander Mihajlovich. Here there was also a workshop.
The working day at the artist has always been painted, is exact under the schedule. And still it constantly found time to meet the fellow countrymen whom, coming to Moscow, without ceremony came to it into a workshop. Has many times had the luck to visit here and me.
Once I have found Alexander Mihajlovicha over work behind a picture.
Minutes of rest, having armed with a tube, Alexander Mihajlovich told about the creative plans.
— As it is a lot of themes exciting, bright, urgent, — the artist spoke. — they and
Ask on a cloth.
Looking at Gerasimov's works, on it, it is involuntarily thought: how many inexhaustible energy and originally creative burning at this person. It has allowed it to reach a great skill the way to which lay through great difficulties and tests.
— The portrait — the most serious in painting, — often was told by Alexander Mihajlovich. — In
Portrait problem enters to restore the person of the person and to force it to live on a cloth through
Centuries...
This high and difficult purpose was put first of all before itself by the artist, working over one of the largest products, brought to it wide popularity, — «Lenin on a tribune».
To create a truthful and convincing image of the proletarian leader in any area of art — a problem especially difficult. And in painting most safely, most talently it has had the luck to resolve to Alexander Mihajlovichu Gerasimov.
... In this remarkable portrait Lenin it is represented on a high tribune. Its prompt sight, his hand are turned to numerous weight of demonstrators. And in height of the autumn sky heavy, lead clouds float. It underlines complexity of conditions. But also even more steadfastly having looked for a mighty Lenin image, at the people, standing up for it an iron wall, you understand that is not present and there can not be such force which would overcome us.
The artist has avoided in a picture of the image of minor details that they have not covered the main, central theme: to show the leader of revolution inspiring millions people on great feats in glory of the Native land.
Alexander Mihajlovich Gerasims in 1963 has died. The big, bright life was lived by this person of remarkable talent. Its best works will be included for ever into gold fund of the fine arts of the country. With special gratitude and gratitude fellow countrymen-tambovtsy will honour his name.