Vladimir A. Favorsky ( 1886-1964)

Graphic artist, founder of the Moscow school of wood engraving, muralist and theater artist
Favorksy was born in Moscow and studied in Konstantin Yuon’s studio of in Moscow (1903-1905), the private academy of Holloshi in Munich (1906-1907) and Moscow State University (1907-1912) at the art history department. His works appeared in exhibitions starting from 1911. In 1915-1917 he served in the army and participated in the First World War. Since 1918 he worked mainly in the technique of engraving. In 1919-1921 he served in the Red Army and participated in the Civil War. He taught at VkHUTEMAS-VHUTEIN in 1921-1929, (professor) and was the institution’s Rector in 1923-1925. He worked in the woodcut printing, reviving the original quality of wood engraving and illustrated books. He was a member the "Four Arts" society (1925-1929). He also worked as Professor in the Moscow Printing Institute (1930-1932) and the Moscow Institute of Fine Arts (1934-1938). He is the author of monumental works: paintings and sgraffito in the Museum of maternity and infancy in Moscow (1933, not preserved), murals in the House of models in Moscow (1935, not preserved). He was a consultant the monumental painting studio at the Russian Academy of Architecture. In 1939 he traveled to Kalmykia. During the Great Patriotic War he was evacuated to Samarkand (1941-1943) and on his return taught at the Moscow Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts (1943-1948). In 1946 he made a trip to Kyrgyzstan. His personal exhibitions were held in 1926 in Kazan, in 1933, 1956 and 1964 in Moscow, 1943 in Samarkand, 1962 in Leningrad and 1962 in London. He is an Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1956) and a People's Artist of the USSR (1963).