Ivan Gorokhov facts for kids
Ivan Lavrentievich Gorokhov (born January 23, 1863, died October 6, 1934) was a talented Russian painter. He was known for his paintings of everyday life (called genre art) and beautiful outdoor scenes (landscapes). He was also connected to a famous group of artists called the Peredvizhniki.
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The Early Life of a Painter
Ivan Gorokhov was born into a family that had once been serfs. Serfs were like farm workers who belonged to the land and its owner. From a young age, Ivan loved to draw nature. However, his family needed him to work on their farm, so he couldn't spend much time on his art.
But news of his artistic talent spread. A local landowner named Vladimir von Meck heard about Ivan. Vladimir's father was a well-known businessman, Karl von Meck. Vladimir showed some of Ivan's drawings to a guest, Nikolai Rubinstein. Both men were impressed. They decided to help Ivan financially so he could go to art school. This support allowed him to attend the famous Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
Becoming an Artist
Ivan started taking classes at the Moscow School in 1874. By 1880, he became a full-time student. He learned from important teachers like Illarion Pryanishnikov and Vladimir Makovsky. In 1886, Ivan graduated with the title of "Artist." He also won a silver medal for his painting called "Recuperating."
Ivan thought about continuing his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts. But his teacher, Konstantin Makovsky, advised him to start his painting career right away. So, Ivan decided to become a professional artist.
Challenges and Successes
Even with support from important people, Ivan found it hard to make enough money to live in Moscow. He moved back to his home village, but it was still difficult to sell his art there. He often had to travel to Moscow to buy art supplies or show his paintings. This was usually too expensive for him.
Things started to get better in 1893 when he joined the Peredvizhniki group. The Peredvizhniki were a group of Russian realist artists who organized traveling art exhibitions. Ivan's paintings received good reviews at their 21st exhibition. Some of his artworks were even bought by members of the Imperial family of Russia!
Later Life and Work
In 1897, a fire forced Ivan to move to Mozhaysk. This was a busy town known for its markets. From 1905 to 1930, Ivan worked as a drawing teacher at a local school there.
After the October Revolution in Russia, Ivan started painting in a style called Socialist Realism. This art style showed the goals of communism and the lives of ordinary people. He painted portraits of leaders like Lenin and Lunacharsky. He also painted scenes from the Russian Civil War.
Sadly, most of these later paintings were lost. This happened because of the destruction in the Mozhaysk area during the German invasion in 1941 and 1942. Today, most of Ivan Gorokhov's paintings are held in private collections.
Selected paintings
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Recuperating
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Watching a Fire
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Night
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Fair in Mozhaysk
