Troubles began on
the 2nd course of picturesque faculty. Students wrote naked model. It was
required to achieve dimensions, plasticity, the correct proportions. But it
was difficult to Gennady to paint a detached lifeless portrait. He had already
got used to create images, characters, types, psychology. On its canvas the
model appeared with an expressive face and red lips. The teacher showed
displeasure. But the student couldn't change to himself, couldn't adapt to
requirements of the institute program. Over him "clouds" started to
condense. And he accepted the offer to pass to graphics faculty.
On the boat Omsk-Salekhard. Photo of 1958
"Pereslavl-Zaleski". Etching. 1957
In northern Kazakhstan. Photo 1960
This transition was
promoted also by visit of the ofortny circle directed by Matvei Alekseevich
Dobrov, training at the beginning of the century in Paris. The warm attitude
of the 80-year-old professor to the talented young man quickly developed into
friendship. Professor pleased the thinnest etchings of the pupil. Matvei
Alekseevich often invited Gennady to his home to look reproductions of the old
masters, to listen to the classical music, to talk about art, artists, life.
Sometimes the professor left the room
to the neighboring one with high racks and there, being kneeling, prayed.
Teacher M.A.Dobrov. Photograph of 1927
Gennady for the first time met the religious
person, for the first time heard about the New Testament. Conversations with
Matvei Alekseevich raised a great interest in religious and moral questions.
He looked for the answers to these questions at Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, the
Buddha, Confucius and other wise men, constantly filling up the home library
with interesting books.
. Vagankovskoe cemetery. On the grave of
a teacher and a friend. Photo 2008
In April, 1958
Matvei Alekseevich, having caught a cold, suddenly died. Gennady took hard
parting. He participated in a the funeral and in the ofortny way etched the
plate with the life and death dates, established it on its grave. The grave
of the favourite teacher on the Vagankovsky cemetery he visited until the end
of life.
Sofia Matveevna,
daughter of M.A. Dobrov, knowing attachment of the father to Gennady, gave him as keepsake the ancient family
Gospel, working tools, books and the French ofortny machine. (Some years
later she agreed to Gennady to change his surname Gladunov on Dobrov. The
confusion of a surname Gladunov with Glazunov became the main reason for
that. By east tradition pupils sometimes took surnames of the teachers who
haven't left man's posterity).
At institute the
whole year is allocated for diploma preparation. For half a year before
protection Gennady showed to the head E.A. Kibrik, 3 graphic works. The first
sheet "Young Artist" surprised the venerable teacher. There were no
questions to composition of the 1st plan and execution: on a shed roof before
the opened etudnik sits (in a semi-profile) the barefoot snub-nosed fellow.
He looks at a sunset, having forgotten both about the etude, and about a
brush in his hand. Round provincial houses lodges old fences, the neighbor is
working in the garden...
"And where is the
Soviet reality?” - suddenly E.A. Kibrik dumbfounded a question. – "No, so it
won't do at all. You descend, Gena, to the port. Look there are the cranes,
the barges float with posters
"The first bread to the state! ". It has to become the second plan
of drawing, instead of any remote place".
Professor E.A.Kibrik
The second drawing
represented the grandmother on post office, sending parcel to the beloved
grandson in army. In an open box warm knitted socks, mittens, candies were
visible. Ordinary sketch, many times seen on post office. "And tell me,
Gena, why does she send all this? Aren’t our soldiers in the army given out clothes? Or they badly feed them?
No, I can't approve such contents in any way..."
Following advice of
the authoritative instructor, Gennady changed all the drawings. When he brought them again -
Evgeny Adolfovich praised: "Now I am quite for your diploma".
But Gena couldn't
calm down. "So where those facts of life for which the teacher on
occupations calls? Unless I have no right to represent the home, favourite
court yard in Omsk. And here port and barges which also isn't visible from
our roof? " - he painfully thought. Some days the student went, crestfallen. "Means and it will be fated to follow me all life to advice of
authorities? And where independence?"
Gennady returned to
initial sketches. Kibrik looked at them, but said nothing. But it appeared
later, on the next teachers' meeting, the decision was made - not to allow
the obstinate student to diploma defense. And nobody reported him about that, they were afraid
of a nervous breakdown. It was first "revolt" of future artist.
