Konstantin M. Lomykin
(1924-Odessa-1994)
“Women loading watermelons in the harbour“
Oil on canvas: 1,10 x 1,30 cm; signed and titled on the verso,
to be dated circa 1975/1980.
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Notes
The original large version is dated 1967; this work belongs to the three or four similar subjects that were executed later. Konstantin Lomykin was born in Glukhovo (Sumy region, Ukraine) in 1924. He died in Odessa in 1994.
Lomykin studied at the Odessa Art College from 1946 until 1951. In 1953 he became a member of the Union of Artists. In the same year he had his first exhibition. Important shows include the All-Union Exhibitions in 1951 and 1952 in Moscow and many group exhibitions in the Soviet Union (Moscow, St Petersburg, Odessa, Kiev and Minsk) and abroad (the USA, Japan, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Germany and Yugoslavia).
He also had several solo exhibitions, including Kharkov (1954, 1963), Hamburg (1971), Odessa (1974), Kiev (1956, 1957, 1974), Tokyo (1979), Tokomatsu (Japan, 1981), Helsinki (1982), Alma Ata (1985) and Moscow (1986).
A large exhibition of Lomykins work was organised in the Marie Tak van Poortvliet Museum in Domburg, Holland with a beautiful catalogue about Russian art in general and a second part about Lomykins life and work.
Lomykin is considered a leading Odessa realist. His canvases, usually rather small in size, show nature suffused with life and feeling. The painter devoted much attention to still lifes and portraits. Nudes – an eternal theme in the world of art – held an important place in Lomykin’s work. He also depicted many ballet dancers of the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre. These are very often pastels, a medium in which Lomykin has achieved the heights of virtuosity.
The essence of Lomykin’s art can be estimated by the generosity with which he gives all of himself to this work and the artistic and thematic tasks that he set himself, applying all his effort to bringing out the beauty of man and nature.
Provenance
- directly from the artist’s family to
- Hogendoorn and A. van Gaal;
- Douwes Fine Art, Amsterdam 2009
- Private collection, The Netherlands
Literature
Soviet Painters, p.92, 93 with colour reproduction of Ballerina Resting, pastel on paper, by Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, Moscow, 1982; Konstantin Lomykin by R. Kunkina, published by Sovetski Khudozhnik, Moscow 1986; Konstantin Lomykin by V.A.Abramov, published by Oblpoligrafildat, Odessa 1987; Konstantin Lomykin by G.L. Konovalov, published by Mistetsvo, Kiev 1985; Socialist Realist Painting, Matthew Cullerne Bown, New Haven & London, 1998, p.356, 357, with ill. A Peasant Woman with a Watermelon, late 1950’s; A Dictionary of twentieth century Russian and Soviet Painters, Matthew Cullerne Bown, London, 1998, with ill. pl.168, p.190 Woman with Watermelon, 1966; Russische kunst, Russisch Impressionisme. Konstantin Lomykin, Frits Groeneveld, Domburg 2001.