Pawel Andreievich Fedotov Paintings

Pavel Andreevich Fedotov is considered the founder of critical realism in Russian art. Born on June 22, 1815, in Moscow, Fedotov was the son of a small-time government clerk. Despite the financial constraints of his family, he was able to attend the Moscow Boarding School for the Nobility, thanks to his father's status as a hereditary nobleman.

After completing his education, Fedotov pursued a military career, enrolling in the prestigious Imperial Guard. While serving, he began to show an interest in art and took to drawing and painting. His artistic pursuits were largely self-taught, although he later took lessons from the artist A. E. Egorov. Fedotov's military career was relatively short-lived; he resigned his commission in 1844 to devote himself entirely to painting.

Fedotov's work was characterized by a satirical approach to contemporary society. He depicted the everyday life of various social classes, often highlighting their moral and ethical failings. His paintings were narrative and anecdotal, with a keen eye for the absurdities of human behavior. One of his most famous works is 'The Major's Marriage Proposal,' which portrays a pompous government official's unsuccessful attempt to propose marriage to a young woman.

His series of paintings titled 'The Fresh Cavalier' (also known as 'The Arrival of a New Official') is another significant work that mocks the bureaucratic class and the petty corruption endemic in mid-19th-century Russian society. The series was well received and brought Fedotov some fame during his lifetime.

Unfortunately, Fedotov's life was marred by personal tragedy and mental health issues. He never achieved financial stability, and his work was not enough to support him. In addition to his struggles with poverty, Fedotov's mental state deteriorated, possibly exacerbated by syphilis. His health rapidly declined, and he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in St. Petersburg, where he died on November 26, 1852, at the age of 37.

Despite his short career and life, Pavel Andreevich Fedotov left a lasting legacy in Russian art. His sharp social commentary and innovative approach to genre painting influenced many Russian artists and paved the way for later realist painters in Russia.