In 1916-1919 Grigoriev created a series of graphic works Raseya, and then turned several images of this cycle into paintings. All characters by Grigoriev are full of grotesque. It is not deliberate angry sarcasm, but a chuckle of the artist trying to understand dramatic changes that came to Russia with the Revolution of 1917.
The eyes of the girls from the paintings by Grigoriev are not childish at all. In their looks one can see a hidden question: how does the new reality “that broke the mooring of space and time” coincide with flowers on the windowsills, shaggy dogs, peasants’ labour, and warm baked bread. A combination of artistic realism, close attention to personalities, to the people as a combination of millions of inner worlds, and to the world in general is a characteristic feature of Grigoriev’s personal style.

Grigoriev Boris

Grigoriev, Boris Dmitriyevich
1886, Moscow - 1939, Cannessur-Mere (France)
Painter, draughtsman. Studied under Dmitry Scherbinovsky at the Stroganov Central School of Art and Industry (1903-07) and under Alexander Kiselev and Nikolai Dubovskoi at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1907-12). Contributed to the exhibitions of the Impressionists (1909), Fellowship of Independents (1912-13) and the World of Art (1913, 1915-18, member from 1918). Emigrated (1919) and lived in Finland, Germany and France.