Andreev Nikolai Platonovich
Nikolai Platonovich Andreev is an outstanding Russian photographer, a world—renowned master of pictorial photography, who has lived in Serpukhov all his life. His work reflected the fate of Russia, but his hometown occupied a special place in his artistic images.
Key stages of life and creativity:
The beginning of the journey. After a conflict with his father (merchant Platon Andreevich), he opened a photo studio in Serpukhov in 1901. He studied photography in depth: he mastered the literature available in the city, joined the Russian Photographic Society.
Confession. Since 1906, he has exhibited his work in photo salons in Russia and Europe.:
1908 — prize from the Russian Photographic Society and diploma at the international exhibition in Moscow.
1910 — diploma with a commendation sheet at an exhibition in Dresden (Germany).
1924 — gold medal at the exhibition of decorative arts in Paris.
1927 — gold medal in Zaragoza (Spain).
The "Golden Period" (1922-1928) is a time of creative maturity. In 1929, his first solo exhibition was held at the Serpukhov Museum of Art, History and Local Lore (180 works).
The difficulties of the 1930s:
In 1928, the photo studio was taxed, then the pavilion was destroyed and the property was described;
in 1930, it was forbidden to exhibit abroad.;
The family's house was "compacted", and in 1934 the Andreevs were moved to a communal apartment.;
In the early 1930s, the summer cottage in the village of Luzhki, where the photographer often worked, burned down.
Later years. He worked at the Serpukhov branch of the Research Institute of Textile Industry (SERPNITI), engaged in microphotography. The last lifetime participation in the exhibition was the Focus photo salon in Amsterdam (1946).
Style and contribution to art:
he worked in the direction of pictorialism — he tried to give artistic value to photography, bringing it closer to painting (using soft focus, complex printing techniques);
His works have been exhibited at 65 exhibitions in Russia and abroad (France, England, Spain, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Japan, etc.);
his works have received enthusiastic reviews from experts, including the Swiss magazine Camera.
Memory:
Andreev's house in Serpukhov was transferred to the Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum ‑ now it is a photo center and a memorial museum.;
In 2021, the family donated 669 copyright prints, documents and books related to his work to the State Tretyakov Gallery.;
Andreev's photographic works are also kept and exhibited at the Serpukhov Museum of History and Art: in 2023-2024, the exhibition "Painting of Light. Nikolai Andreev. The Art of Photography", more details — https://serpuhov-museum.ru/vistavki/vystavka-zhivopis-sveta-nikolaj-andreev-iskusstvo-sveta/