The nature of Ilya Mashkov’s painterly talent – its elemental creative sweep, energy, temperament and exaggerated sensuality towards life – distinguished the artist’s works from those of his fellow members of the Jack of Diamonds. Such early paintings as Boy in a Painted Shirt reflect the various influences on Mashkov’s oeuvre – his interest in modern French painting, particularly Fauvism; his profound and genuine affinity for folk creativity and adherence to the “tray” style, incarnated in both the background of the painting and the highly-coloured structure in general; and urban artistic folklore – signboards and fairground photography, reflected in the positioning of the model and the subject’s deliberately serious and attentive glance, fastened directly on the viewer.

Mashkov Ilya

Mashkov, Ilya Ivanovich (1881, Mikhailovskaya (Don Region) - 1944, Abramtsevo (outside Moscow))
Painter, graphic artist, teacher, portraitist, genre artist. Studied under Abram Arkhipov, Konstantin Korovin and Valentin Serov at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1900-1909). Member of the Jack of Diamonds (1911), World of Art (1916), Society of Moscow Artists (1924-1928) and the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia (from 1924). Contributed to exhibitions (from 1902). Contributed to the exhibitions of the New Society of Artists (1909), Golden Fleece (1909-1910), Vladimir Izdebsky Salon (1909-1911), Jack of Diamonds (1910-1914), Moscow Salon (1911), Salon des Independants (1911, 1912) World of Art (1911, 1912, 1915-1922, 1929), Society of Moscow Artists (1927, 1928) and the Venice Biennale (1924). Taught in his own studio in Moscow (1904-1917) and at the Free Art Studios/ VKhUTEMAS/Higher Art and Technical Institute (1920-1930). Headed the central studio of the Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia (1925-1929). Honoured artist of the RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC (1928).