Pablo picasso at 90

He puts on glasses now for working and reading; his lip-reading helps him in his deafness. At 90, Pablo Picasso can’t sit without doing something — at dinner he still draws on the table-cloth, still sculpts different forms from bread beside his plate. “Seeing him is an impressive experience”, says his friend. Picasso’s day begins with sketching or drawing something He often works while guests are present, sometimes he leaves them after saying some words. One evening this summer he began working on a large canvas and worked all night. The next morning on coming into his room a visitor found the painting finished. In painting Picasso forges everything, “In; walking in his studio you have to be careful”, says another friend, “there are a lot of paintings everywhere. Finding a chair is not easy”. Before going to bed Picasso often watches a late movie or boxing, sketching forms with the sound switched out. At 90 this most outstanding artist of the century is still fond of working, as much as possible. Because he knows there is not so much time left.Picasso’s attitude was reflected in his advice to the bullfighter Dominguin when he was thinking of returning to the ring at 46. “Luis Miguel”, said Picasso, “you can be killed by a bull but what more could you ask for? What more could I ask for than to fall dead while painting? When a.man knows how to do something and fails to do it, he is no longer a man. This is why you, Luis Miguel, must return to the ring and die in the most decorous way possible. It is your duty”.

(After an article from “Time”, 1971)

Ivan nikol a ye vich kramskoy (1837-1887)

I.N. Kramskoy was born in 1837 in Woronezh Gubernia. His parents were poor and he had to start earning his living very early. On arriving in St. Petersburg in 1857, he was soon admitted to the Academy of Arts. While studying in the Academy he was against the teaching methods of arts and headed a group of fourteen students who refused to paint pictures on traditional themes proposed by their teachers. This group demanded the right to choose themes connected with the life around them. Their demands were not satisfied, and Kramskoy together with his supporters protested.They left the Academy without graduating. Later on he became an organizer and in-spirer of the Association of Travelling Artists (Peredvizhniki).

Kramskoy created many great paintings which are an important part of Russian art. His excellent canvases such as “The Stranger”, “Christ in the Desert”, “Mermaids” are among the best treasures of Russian culture.

Kramskoy is also known for his portraits of his famous — contemporaries: writers, poets, painters and actors. As a portrait painter Kramskoy shows a great ability of understanding and revealing the inner world of his models.He is a great master of realistic and psychological portraits.

All his life Kramskoy fought for social significance, realism and i technical skill in art. The importance of Kramskoy as the leader of the Travelling Artists Group and art critic is great. Repin spoke of him as a great Russian artist and citizen and said that he deserved a national monument.Kramskoy’s pictures are displayed in the Tretyakov Art Gallery in Moscow, the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg and other museums in Russia.