Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar

Early Life and Education

Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar (1871 – 1960) was a Russian Post-Impressionist painter, publisher, restorer and historian of art. Grabar, descendant of a wealthy Rusyn family, was trained as a painter by Ilya Repin in Saint Petersburg and by Anton Àžbe in Munich. He reached his peak in painting between 1903–1907 and was notable for a peculiar divisionist painting technique bordering on pointillism and his rendition of snow. His family’s strong inclination towards the Russian culture stemmed from his father, Emmanuil Hrabar, an ethnic Rusyn lawyer and politician who maintained ties with the russian embassy. Grabar's early education took place in Yegoryevsk, where he attended high school. His interest in drawing was sparked by the stream of magazine publications following the 1881 murder of Alexander II of Russia. He later enrolled in Mikhail Katkov’s boarding school in Moscow, making contacts with students from the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

Artistic Career and Notable Works

Grabar trained under Ilya Repin in Saint Petersburg and Anton Àžbe in Munich. He reached his peak in painting between 1903–1907, notable for a peculiar divisionist technique bordering on pointillism and his rendition of snow. Some of his notable works include:

• Landscape with a Haystack, showcasing his skill in capturing the beauty of nature.
• The Embroideress, a prime example of the realist style popular in Russia during the 19th century.
• Going to Work, a painting that reflects the daily life of the Russian people.

Museum and Art Restoration

In 1913, Grabar was appointed executive director of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. He diversified the collection into modern art and published its first comprehensive catalogue in 1917. As a professor of art restoration at the Moscow State University (1921), he played a crucial role in the Soviet art establishment. Notable Museums Featuring Grabar’s Work:

• Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, a world-renowned museum with an extensive collection of Russian fine art.
• Novokuznetsk Art Museum, Russia, housing an impressive collection of russian and european artworks.
• Museo Kharkov Museum of Art (Ukraine), featuring a vast collection of opere d’arte from the 14th century.

Legacy and Later Life

Grabar remained at the top of the Soviet art establishment until his death on May 16, 1960. He managed art-restoration workshops (present-day Grabar Centre) during 1918–1930 and from 1944 to 1960. His experience in politics helped him shape the Soviet doctrine of compensating World War II losses with art looted in Germany. After the war, he personally advised Joseph Stalin on the preservation of architectural heritage. He is no relation to either André Grabar or Oleg Grabar.