Born 1899, Kursk - Died 1969, Moscow
Painter, graphic artist, sculptor, monumentalist
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography
Note: This page brings works by the artistt which belong in the Mass and Agit Art category, mainly agitational and specifically political works, like those expressly celebrating the proletariat or the Red Army. I thank the Moscow Metro for graciously providing me with outstanding pictures of the Metro mosaics by Deineka.
Additional works by this artist may be seen in the OST movement, to which the artist belonged.
Paintings
Before Descending to the Mine. 1925.
Oil on canvas, 246.5x209.8 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Constructing New Workfloors. 1926.
Oil on canvas, 209x200 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Textile Workers. 1927.
Oil on canvas, 209x200 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
The Defence of Petrograd. 1927.
Oil on canvas, 218x354 cm.
Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the USSR, Moscow.
The Interventionists' Mercenary. 1931.
Deineka Kursk Regional Picture Gallery.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Bomb Carrier. 1932.
Oil on canvas, 52.5x120 cm.
Dogadin Astrakhan State Picture Gallery.
Kolkhoz Team Meeting. 1934.
Oil on canvas, 128x176 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Heroes of the First Five-Year Plan. 1936.
Oil on canvas, 250x192 cm.
Kasteev Kazakhstan State Museum of Fine Arts.
At a Women's Meeting. 1937.
Oil on canvas, 170x265 cm.
Cheliabinsk Regional Picture Gallery.
Stakhanovtzy. 1937.
Oil on canvas.
The State Art Gallery of Perm.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Left March. 1940-1941.
Oil on canvas, 140x330 cm.
The Literary Museum, Moscow.
The Defence of Sevastopol. 1942.
Oil on canvas, 200x400 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
On the Outskirts of Moscow: November 1941. 1941.
Oil on canvas, 92x136 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Mayakovsky in Workshop of ROSTA Windows. 1941.
Oil on canvas.
The State Literature Museum, Moscow.
A Village Burned Down. 1942.
Oil on canvas, 100x125 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Shot Down Ace. 1943.
Oil on canvas, 283x188 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
In Occupied Territory. 1944.
Oil on canvas, 100x195 cm.
Deineka Kursk Regional Picture Gallery.
Berlin: The Day The Declaration Was Signed. 1945.
Watercolour and tempera on paper, 50x40 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Donbass. 1944.
Oil on canvas.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
The Expanse of Construction Sites in Moscow Environs. 1947.
Oil on canvas, 250x300 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Landing of Special Forces. 1940s.
Gouache on paper, 57.5x104 cm.
Art Gallery of Fund of Generations, Langepas.
Opening of a Kolkhoz Electrical Power Station. 1952.
Oil on canvas.
The State Picture Gallery, Moscow.
Tracktor Driver. 1956.
Oil on canvas.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
Milkmaid. 1959.
Oil on canvas, 163x132 cm.
Sukachev Irkutsk Regional Art Museum.
October Peace Slogans at Otskirts of Neva. 1960.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Steam Hammer at Kolomenskoe Factory. Drawing for Journal "At the Workstand". 1925.
Gouache, Indian ink and pencil on paper, 43.2x34.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
In Donbass. Drawing for Journal "At the Workstand". 1925.
Gouache and Indian ink on paper, 29.7x28.8 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Candidate for the Party. Illustration for Journal "Godless at the Workstand" #11. 1925.
Accepted Unanimously. Illustration for Journal "Godless at the Workstand"
. 1925.
Indian ink on paper, 20.1x29.5 cm.
Deineka Kursk Regional Picture Gallery.
Cover for book "May 1st" by A.Barto. 1926.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Farmer on a Field. Illustration for book "May 1st" by A.Barto. 1926.
The Defence of Petrograd. Sketch for painting by same name. 1927.
Watercolor on paper.
Odessa Art Museum.
Demonstration. 1928.
Indian ink, pen and brush on paper, 38.9x29.9 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Cover for Journal "Dayosh" #2. 1929.
Zinkography, 29.5x22 cm.
State Russian Library, Moscow.
Cover for Journal "Dayosh" #5. 1929.
Lithography, 30x22.5 cm.
Collection of Helix Art Center, San Diego.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Agit Poster: Let's Mechanize Donbass. 1930.
Color lithography, 101x82 cm.
State Russian Library, Moscow.
Agit Poster: Kolkhoz Member, Be a Sportsman/Woman. 1930.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Agit Poster: Record Worker, Be a Sportsman/Woman. 1930.
Chinese ink on paper, 102.3x72.7 cm.
Deineka Kursk Regional Picture Gallery.
Cover for children book "Red Army Parade". 1930.
Illustration for children book "Red Army Parade". 1930.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Cavalry. Illustration for children book "Red Army Parade". 1930.
Ink on paper, 23.6x22.1 cm.
Deineka Kursk Regional Picture Gallery.
Agit Poster: "We Demand General Mandatory Education". 1930.
84x59.5 cm.
State Russian Library, Moscow.
Agit Poster: "Let's Turn Moscow into Exemplary Socialistic City of the Proletarian State". 1931. On two sheets.
Color lithography, 103x72 cm.
State Russian Library, Moscow.
Agit Poster: "We Shall Send Proletarian Workers to Uralo-Kuzbass!". 1931.
Color lithography, 70x103 cm.
State Russian Library, Moscow.
Agit Poster: "Let's Build A Powerful Soviet Dirigible 'Klim Voroshilov'". 1931.
Color lithography, 103x72 cm.
State Russian Library, Moscow.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Poster-Newspaper "Window of IZOGIZ". Full Speed. 1930-1931.
Color lithography, 71.5x99 cm.
Deineka Kursk Regional Picture Gallery.
Agit Poster: "Who at/to/for Whom?" 1932.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Agit Poster: "Work, Build and Do Not Whine! The Path for New Life Has Been Shown to Us. You May Not Become an Athlete, But Must Be a Sportsman/Woman". 1933.
Color lithography, 100x74 cm.
State Russian Library, Moscow.
Illustration for "Le Feu" by Henri Barbusse. 1934.
Indian ink on paper.
Central Museum of the Revolution, Moscow.
Illustration for "Le Feu" by Henri Barbusse. 1934.
Indian ink on paper, 33.4x25 cm.
Central Museum of the Revolution, Moscow.
Destroyed Train Station. 1942.
Pencil, charcoal and whitening on paper, 53.7x86.5 cm.
Deineka Kursk Regional Picture Gallery.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
In 1938 the artist had designed 34 oval panneaux for the Metro station Mayakovskaya in Moscow, installed on the ceilings in the main hall, lighted from underneath with the lamps all around the ovals. The artists has called his theme for the mosaics "A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky".
I thank the Moscow Metro for graciously providing me with outstanding pictures of the Metro mosaics by Deineka. (the oficial website of the Moscow Metro).
The main hall of Metro station Mayakovskaya. Picture source: wikipedia.
A single ceiling mosaic lighted from beneath. Picture source: wikipedia.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Two Airplanes. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Dive Into Water. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Peaches. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Singalling Sailor. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Banner of Bomber Planes. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: A Parachute Jumper. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Over the Spasskaya Tower. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Grain Harvest. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: A Pole Jumper. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Glider Planes. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: A Ski Jumper. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Pine Trees. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: A Sportswoman. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: An-25 Airplane. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Sundown. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Dirigible over Spasskaya Tower. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: A Parachute Jump. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Biplane. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Dawn. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Chimneys. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Stratostat. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Airplane Model Makers. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Volleyball. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Parachute Jumpers. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Bomber Airplane TB-4. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: High Construction Worker. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Sea Gulls. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Mother. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Two Airplanes. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Power Lines. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Sunflowers. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Peaches. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
A Day and Night of the Soviet Sky: Red Banner. Oval Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Mayakovskaya, Moscow. 1938.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
In 1942 the artist had designed 7 octagonal panneaux for the Metro station Novokuznezkaya in Moscow, installed on the ceilings in the main hall, opposite each exit to the trains. These are famous by the fact that the artist who assembled the mosaic panneaux, V.A.Frolov, has worked on them in Leningrad under German blockade during WWII, hungry and sick. It is said that Frolov has shipped the last box to Lake Ladoga to be taken to Moscow and then died. Deineka's theme for these mosaics was the stoic heroism of the Soviet people, workers, staying behind during the Great war.
I thank the Moscow Metro for graciously providing me with outstanding pictures of the Metro mosaics by Deineka. (the oficial website of the Moscow Metro).
Main hall at Metro station Novokuznezkaya. Picture source: wikipedia.
Stoic Soviet People: Gardeners. Octagonal Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Novokuznezkaya, Moscow. 1942.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Stoic Soviet People: Steel Workers. Octagonal Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Novokuznezkaya, Moscow. 1942.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Stoic Soviet People: Mechanical Constructors. Octagonal Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Novokuznezkaya, Moscow. 1943.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Stoic Soviet People: High Construction. Octagonal Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Novokuznezkaya, Moscow. 1942.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Stoic Soviet People: Aviators. Octagonal Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Novokuznezkaya, Moscow. 1942.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Stoic Soviet People: Skiers. Octagonal Mosaic Ceiling Panneau at the Metro Station Novokuznezkaya, Moscow. 1942.
Mosaic tiles.
Photograph provided by the Moscow Metro.
Paintings Graphic Work Mosaics Biography Top of Page
Biography:
Alexander Deineka is considered by some the father of the Soviet Official art. And yet, his path was not as straightforward as may seem in that respect.
Alexander Deineka was born May 20th 1899, in a family of a railroad worker in Kursk. From an early age he showed a love and aptitude for drawing, which has brought him in 1915 to enroll into Kharkov Art school, where he studied for two years.
He was but 18 years old when the Great October Revolution has shaken the country, and the young artist has shared enthusiastically the ideas and goals of these changes, as he saw them: the creation of the first egalitarian Proletariat Republic in the world! And he was there, in the first generation of Revolutionary Russia.
Late 1920s.
In 1918 he has returned to Kursk, where he worked as a photographer in the department of Criminal Investigation, and headed a department in the Regional Art Education authority, where he has taken part in decorating Agit-Trains and preparing the festivities of the first Anniversary of the Revolution, participating in the defence of Kursk from the Whites. In 1919-1920 Deineka has enlitsted in the Red Army, where he has headed the Art studio in Kursk GUBONO, he was sent to the front as an Army Mobile Theatre artist. He drew posters for the "ROSTA Windows" in Kursk.
In 1920 Deineka was sent to study in Moscow VKhUTEMAS, under V.Favorsky, who has great influence over his student, and I.Nivinsky, at the Polygraphic Department, where he studied until 1925. Here he has met many of the time's leaders in art, such as V.Mayakovsky.
Together with A.Goncharov and Yu.Pimenov the artist has formed the "Group of Three". And in 1925 he has become one of the founders of the OST movement, alongside D.Shterenberg, Yu. Pimenov, A.Tyshler, P.Williams and others.
In these years he goes on many working trips around the country, which inspire his portrayal of the working people, the proletariat and the technological environment of their work, at their routine tasks: "Before Descending into the Mine", "Constructing New Workfloors", "Textile workers". He illustrated journals and periodicals, such as "Godless at the Workstand", "Projector", "Krasnaya Niva". He also painted portraits and landscapes at that time, trying his hand at various styles.
Making studies in Sevastopol. 1930s.
It seems that as his art matured, Deineka was taken with two major themes: one - the specific, idealistic portrayal of the Soviet people, workers and farmers, soldiers and heroism; the other - almost lyrical, the celebration of young vibrant life, sportsmen and sportswomen with pronounced supple and muscled bodies, chidren in their energetic and youthful innocence. Both these lines have served as the beginning of what was to become the new canons of Oficial Soviet art, too pronounced and stylized to be totally realistic, a somewhat romantic presentation of these exaggerrated robust figures. One subject which doesn't follow these lines is the paintings from his travels abroad.
In 1928, for the 10th anniversary of the Red Army the artist created his "Defence of Petrograd" painting, which captures the intensity of the Civil war. He has continued to depict moments from the Civil war in the "Interventionist Mercenary" and other paintings. and at the same time he creates his most renown paintings: "Midday", "Mother", "Playing Ball", "Bathing Girls", "Running". His working trip to Crimea has made an impression in paintings such as "Future Pilots", radiating calmness and peace with the energy and enthusiasm of the young boys, totally absorbed in watching the hydroplane. Aviation was a favorite theme for Deineka over the years.
In 1928 Deineja has joined the artistic association "October", then in 1930 - of the Russian Association of Proletariat Artists. At this time he taught at the VKhUTEIN (1928-1930) and at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute (1928-1934), where he manages the poster department.
In the years 1935-1937 the artist has visited France, Italy and USA. The paintings of these places are totally different in both style and mood, his color palette shows the specific local tint, uncharacteristic of his Russian work. At the International Exhibition in Paris the artist was awarded a gold medal for his panel "The Noble People of the USSR".
The 1930s were also marked by much monumentalist work for the artist. He created murals and mosaics for public buildings; for the Soviet Pavilion at the Internation Exhibition in Paris in 1934; and the 34 (originally 35) mosaic panneaux for the Metro station Mayakovskaya, in Moscow in 1938. The artist has taught at the Surikov Art Institute of Moscow (1934-1946).
In his workshop. 1964.
When the WWII hit the country, Deineka was once more torn by emotions and fierce pride in the stoicism and heroism of both the Red Army and the Soviet people. This is reflected strongly in his famous "Defence of Sevastopol", "The outskirts of Moscow", "A Village burned Down" and others. The painting "Shot Down Ace" astonishes in its about-to-occur tragedy of a German pilot in mid-fall, whose burning plane has left a scar of smoke across the sky; it horrifies coldly, incompassionately. The mosaics at Metro station Novokuznetzkaya in Moscow were made during the war, in 1943, and their theme was deliberately peaceful. In 1945 Deineka went on a creative visit to Berlin.
After the war, we can see once again the celebration of life in the worker people and their daily tasks, in paintings such as "The Expanse of Construction Sites in Moscow Environs", "Tractor Driver", "Milkmaid"; and in the peaceful, almost lyrical, scenes of Sevastopol and Kursk. He also does sculpture work in various materials. The artist has taught at the Moscow Institute of Applied and Decorative Art (1945-1953), and has headed it until 1948; then at the Moscow Architecture Institute (1953-1957). He was a member of the Decorative Arts Departments of the USSR Academy of Arts from 1947; served as a member of the Presidium from 1958; then vice-president in 1962-1966; then academician-secretary in 1966-1968.
In the last years of his life, Deineka created almost monumentalist work. In 1956 he created murals for the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Chelyabinsk; made mosaics for Moscow University Assembly Hall. In 1958 he has decorated USSR Pavilion at the International Exhibition in Brussels. In 1961 he participated in decorating the Congress Pallace in the Kremlin. In 1965 worked on a mosaic in a sanatorium in Sochi.
For his mosaics "A Fine Morning" and "Hockey Players" Deineka was awarded Lenin Award in 1964. In 1969 Deineka was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin and the Labor Order of the Red Banner.
Several personal exhibitions were held in Kursk in 1960, 1966, 1974; and at the Academy of Arts in 1969. A great deal of his work may be found in the Deineka Picture Gallery in Kursk.
The artist died Jun 12th 1969, in Moscow.