The Mari artist Konstantin Yegorov could have a rich creative future if he was born several decades later. But, as you know, times are not chosen. His career was cut short on takeoff in the tragic 1937.
A young talented artist from the Mari ASSR could create many more unique paintings. But he lived in a difficult time and in 1937 he was sentenced to death.
Biography
Konstantin Fedorovich Egorov was born in the village of Ronga, Mari ASSR. This happened in 1897. The father of the future artist was a teacher and clergyman.
The talent of a young talent was discovered in childhood, in 1915 the child was sent to the Irkutsk art studio. He received his higher education as an artist at the Art and Technology Institute of the city of Kazan.
When the Civil War began, Egorov first fought on the side of the Whites in Kolchak's army, but then moved on to the Reds.
Career
The artist made a great contribution to the development of the Mari Regional Museum. For this temple of culture, he created six canvases in which he recreated the life of ordinary people of his people.
Egorov created many other works. He actively participated in the reconstruction of the country's economy, created thematic canvases.
Creation
In one of his paintings, he answered a significant episode that took place in his native land. He depicted the scene of the meeting of the first steam locomotive. Then he depicted on the canvas a sawmill, an aviation festival.
The talented painter was also an excellent reader. So, he could recite Yesenin and Pushkin for a long time. Konstantin Fedorovich also sang beautifully.
Fatal year
1937 is notorious for being a time of brutal repression. Then they could arrest a person for nothing, and then, having fabricated charges, they shot them without trial. The talented Mari artist suffered the same fate. The fatal role was played by the fact that his father, Yegor Konstantinovich, was a priest, and the artist himself served for some time in the White Army. The last fact became known to the authorities, and in August 1937 a resolution was issued on the arrest of Konstantin Yegorov. Two days later, the verdict was read out to him and carried out - he was shot.
Without questioning the witnesses, Yegorov was accused of anti-Soviet activities, that the artist glorified Finnish culture, he was credited with a connection with the fascists of this country. His contemporary writer Kim Vasin said that when the painter went to be shot, he sang the aria of Mephistopheles from the opera Faust, which said that Satan was in charge.
The verdict of the NKVD troika was carried out in November 1937. Then the mass destruction of the works of the original painter began. According to eyewitnesses, Yegorov's canvases were thrown into the fire and burned. Several of his paintings have survived only by a miracle.
Man-made testimonials of talent
The famous artist depicted ordinary people who work or play. He portrayed young women in national costumes and landscapes. Thanks to the artist, we can get acquainted with the life of the Mari peasants of that time. In one picture, a woman is sitting on a wooden bench, behind her are the walls of a house, a window frame made of the same material.
Another work created by this national hero depicts a Mari woman near a well. Now this canvas, like the first one, is kept in the National Museum. The young woman is also dressed in a traditional Mari costume. We see that she has a rocker on her shoulder, and next to it there are two buckets of wood, in the back is a house made of wood.
Another painting by the creator depicts a beekeeper, as expected, he is dressed in white. His outfit stands out beautifully against the grass carpet, colorful hives and the house. And clouds float in the sky, their color is the same as the color of the clothes of a simple beekeeper.
The artist's unique works are appreciated not only in the Mari Republic, but throughout the world.
