1900, Varlamovo, Vologda Province — 1973, Leningrad

Painter, graphic artist, monumentalist, book artist, sculptor, painter of portraits, genre scenes and watercolours, illustrated children’s books and journals, designed posters. Studied at the Baron Stieglitz Central School of Technical Drawing (1915–1917) in Petrograd / Leningrad; Petrograd State Free Art Studios / VKhUTEMAS / VKhUTEIN (1922–1925); Academy of Arts, graphic department (1926). Contributed to exhibitions (from 1921). Worked for the Okna ROSTA political poster studio (1921) and various publishing houses (1923–1925); produced monumental interior paintings for public buildings in Leningrad (1920s — 1930s). Taught. Professor (1949). Author of the book About My Work (1968–1969). Member of the arts council at the “Children’s Literature” and “Artist” publishing houses. Honoured Artist of the RSFSR (1945), People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1963), People’s Artist of the USSR (1971), corresponding (1958) and full (1964) member of the USSR Academy of Arts. Winner of the Stalin Prize (1946) and State Prize (1973). Awarded a major gold medal at the International Exhibition in Paris (1937) for the Children of the Soviet Land panel made for the Soviet pavilion.