Viktor Efimovich Popkov is one of the legendary figures of Russian painting of the 20th century. This artist is one of my favorites. I did not know whether to make this publication. The Masters Fair publishes more light, cheerful works. Popkov’s works are severe, very deep and philosophical.

His paintings do not have a rich colored pictorial layer. They are restrained in color, but at the same time the monochrome of complex gray and brown contrasts with the monochrome of shades of red and deep blue, creating a complex color scheme for the painting.

Extraordinary and magnificent precision of drawing, accuracy and complexity of composition.

And such depth of reflection on the relationships of people, the place of the artist in the world, failed destinies, war and life after. For me, in terms of the complexity of the world he creates, he is on the level of Dostoevsky and Rembrandt.

From the biography

Artist Viktor Efimovich Popkov (1932-1974). Studied at the Art and Graphic Pedagogical School (1948-1952) and at the Moscow Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov (1952-1958).

One of the founders of the “severe style” of the 60s. At the same time, Viktor Popkov was one of the first to leave its rigid and rather narrow boundaries: like any great and original master, he did not fit into the framework of a specific stylistic direction – even the one that he himself formed and in many ways personified.

In 1967, he was awarded an honorary diploma of the Paris Biennale for three works: “The Brigade Resting”, “Noon” and “Two”. For the cycle of paintings “Reflections on Life” V.E. Popkov was awarded the USSR State Prize (posthumously). Many masterpieces from his creative legacy are in the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, the State Museum-Reserve “Abramtsevo”, in museums of Russia and foreign collections. V.E. Popkov lived and worked in Moscow.

The artist died on November 12, 1974 as a result of an accident: he was shot point-blank by a collector when he approached the collector’s car and asked the driver to give him a ride. Later, the collector claimed that he was following instructions.

A lot of Popkov’s works are dedicated to the Russian North. Enormous log houses and widows left alone. War. People. Fates.