Yuri Annenkov

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Yuri Pavlovich Annenkov (Russian: Юрий Павлович Анненков; 23 July 1889 [O.S. 11 July 1889] in Petropavlovsk, Russian Empire – 18 July 1974 in Paris, France), ^[1] was a Russian artist mostly known for his book illustrations and portraits. He also worked for theatre and cinema (design). A member of Mir Iskusstva.

Yuri Annenkov was born into a well-known family (among his ancestors was Pavel Annenkov, Pushkin's publisher); his father, Pavel Annenkov was involved into revolutionary activities that led him to exile in Siberia. The Annenkovs moved back to St. Petersburg in 1892.

In 1908 Annenkov entered the University of St. Petersburg and attended Saveli Seidenberg's studio classes, together with Marc Chagall. Next year, 1909, he attended Jan Ciaglinski's studio. In 1911-1912 Annenkov moved to Paris to work in the studios of Maurice Denis and Félix Vallotton. In 1913 Annenkov worked in Switzerland. Upon his return to St. Petersburg in 1914 Annenkov mostly contributed to magazines (Satirikon, Teatr i Iskusstvo, Otechestvo) and worked for theatres.

Maxim Gorky's fairy-tale book, "Samovar", published in 1917 was his first work as a book designer. His recognition as a book illustrator came in the wake of his most known work - designing Alexander Blok's poem, The Twelve, published in 1918 and gone through three printings within a year. In the next few years Annenkov designed numerous books for Petrograd authors (Mikhail Kuzmin and Aleksey Remizov, to name a few). In 1919 Annenkov designed and staged "First Distiller, or How an Imp Earned a Hunk of Bread", a comedy by Count Lev Tolstoi.

Commissioned by the Bolshevik government, Annenkov together with Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, S. Maslovski and A. Kugel, designed and staged the open-air mystery "Liberated Labour Anthem" on 1 May 1920 in Petrograd. Later that year, Annenkov staged and designed another mass show for the October Revolution anniversary celebrations on Palace Square in Petrograd. In 1919-1920 Annenkov made a series of abstract sculptural assemblages and collages, influenced by the Dada movement.

Portrait of Fyodor Sologub

1922 saw his book "Portraits". It contained 80 pictures of the key-figures of Russian art of the time (Gorki, Zamyatin, Remizov, Sologub, Blok, Akhmatova a.o.) made in 1906-1921. The book also included essays by Yevgeny Zamyatin and Mikhail Kuzmin. He joined the Mir Iskusstva.

Annenkov emigrated to the West in July 1924, first living in Germany and later settling in Paris. He continued to work as an artist and served as a costume designer for motion pictures.

[edit] Notes

^ Names by which he is credited for his work on films include Georges Annenkov, Georges Annet, and D'Annenkoff. Sometimes he signed his work G. Annenkoff. [1] [2] [3]