National Art Museum of the Rubublic of Belarus

Imagery of the Epoch

Yevgeny Zaitsev

1908 – 1992

Imagery of the Epoch

Yevgeny Zaitsev, the people’s artist of the BSSR (1963), Academy of Fine Arts corresponding member (1973) was one of the most famous and distinguished Belarusian painters of the soviet epoch.

Yevgeny Zaitsev was born on December 21, 1907 (January 3, 1908 in the new style) in Nevel Town, Vitebsk Guberniya (now Pskov Oblast, Russia). His parents were postal employees. He died on September 13, 1992 in Minsk.

Zaitsev studied at the Vitebsk Higher People’s Art School under Marc Chagall (1920); the Vitebsk Art and Technical School (1920–1930), Ceramic and Painting Department under Nikolai Mikholap, Mariya Lebedeva, Valentin Volkov, Mikhail Kerzin. He graduated with honours from the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Leningrad (1931–1937). His teachers were Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Aleksandr Osmyorkin, Pavel Naumov. In 1938 the artist came to Minsk, in 1938–1941 he headed the extension courses for young artists, took an active part in exhibitions, executed murals for the BSSR Opera and Ballet Theatre (they have been lost). In 1940 Yevgeny Zaitsev became a member of the Soviet Artists Union of the BSSR. The was the II World War veteran, in 1943–1944 he worked at the headquarters of partisan movement in Moscow, illustrated the editions “Partisanskaya Dubinka” (“Partisan Bludgeon”) and “Razdavim Fashistskuyu Gadinu” (“Let’s Crush the Fascist Bastard”).

In postwar years Yevgeny Zaitsev worked mainly in the field of easel painting. Executed jointly with Ivan Tikhonov a monumental composition in “Pioner” Cinema in Minsk. In 1949–1951 he headed BSSR Artists Union.

In his work Yevgeny Zaitsev practiced principles of the Soviet art such as realism, priority of thematic picture, depiction of important social subjects, heroics and romantic pathos. In this style the artist worked during 40 years – since 1937 when he painted his graduate work “Chapayev” till 1975 when he executed “Unforgettable”. At the same time he painted portraits, landscapes, still lifes, which vividly manifested the vigorous and dramatic natural gift of the artist. Composition in all master’s works was expressive and self-sufficient. He built a picture in such a way that all the linear rhythms and volumes themselves conveyed its content like a kind of emblem. Colour didn’t always play indeed determinative role. Sometimes it was equal to composition, sometimes it submitted to composition, which was typical for an academic picture. But nevertheless independent, “devoid of ideology” and outstanding treatment of colour was apparent in the best portraits and landscapes, in splendid Albanian cycle which was executed in 1958 during the painter’s first trip abroad.

Yevgeny Zaitsev was awarded with the Order of Red Banner of Labour, the Order “Badge of Honour” (twice), the Order “Friendship of Nations”, medals, including the medal “For Defence of Moscow”, five Diplomas of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Three of Yevgeny Zaitsev’s works (portraits of young partisan, ballerina Aleksandra Nikolayeva, sculptor Anatoly Anikeichik) are included into the permanent exhibition of the museum.