15. Still life with fruits [1930's]

Vasil Barakov (1902-1991) Still life/Portrait, bilateral painting, oil on canvas, 52/62 cm Vasil Barakov's work is an important part of the classics in Bulgarian art of the 20th century. His main works have long been owned by state museums, but interest in his works remains consistently high. He is one of the "Baraks" - the famous South Bulgarian group, including names such as Zlatyu Boyadzhiev and David Perets. Vasil Barakov painted still lifes, landscapes and portraits. His works are expressive, with intense color and dense texture. It is important to note that he was one of the first artists to develop the industrial landscape in our country. In this work by Vasil Barakov, we actually have two paintings. The first is a still life typical of the author's painterly style. As a stylistic element, it refers us to the late Cézanneism that developed in Bulgarian art in the 1930s. Both in landscape and still life, Vasil Barakov is one of the bright conductors of this trend. On the back of the canvas there is a portrait of an unknown woman. Unlike the other side, the style here is cool and rational. The detailing and the thin painting layer probably show the influence of the German "New Objectivity", which was present in our art in the 1930s and 1940s, along with the already mentioned "Cézanneism". Although different, both works are typical of their author and are important for understanding the complex interweaving of trends in Bulgarian art. The two-sidedness of the work gives it a unique character and makes it worthy of any collection. Vasil Barakov was born on September 4, 1902 in Kazanlak. His family settled in Plovdiv in 1914. In 1926 he enrolled in a painting course at the company's studio "Daga" in Plovdiv. There he became friends with Zlatyu Boyadzhiev, David Perets and Vasil Barakov - known since then as the Baratsites. The nickname "Baratsites" was given to them by the great painter Tsanko Lavrenov. At the Academy of Arts, Vasil Barakov graduated in painting with professors Tseno Todorov and Stefan Ivanov. From 1939 to 1945 he was an artist at the Plovdiv Theater. He held two solo exhibitions in 1939 and in 1977 (on the occasion of his 75th anniversary). From 1935 he participated in General Art and Collective Exhibitions in Bulgaria. He also received international recognition in exhibitions in Vienna, Athens, Moscow, Berlin, Budapest and Belgrade. After 1950 he lived and worked in Sofia. He passed away on November 27, 1991. (S.N.)

Dimensions

width 47 cm, height 40 cm, custom 40 × 47 cm

Description

oil on canvas

Dating

1930's

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