Pushkin by Artist Vitaly Barkin: Contemporary Development of the Poet’s Image in Fine Art

The author identifies and analyzes the features of the interpretation of the image of A. S. Pushkin in the creative heritage of the Honored Artist of the Republic of Adygea Vitaly Fomich Barkin (1938–2018). The range of previously published scientific, journalistic and artistic materials dedicated to the creativity and exhibition history of the artist’s works is taken into account. The author of the article reconstructs the biography of Vitaly Barkin based on the testimonies of people who knew him, cites the memories of his wife, who was initiated into the process of the artist’s creative searches and observed how ideas were born and implemented. The research methodology is based on a multifaceted analysis of Vitaly Barkin’s work, based on the specifics of the studied biographical facts and cultural and historical contexts. This approach led to the use of comparative and systemic-historical methods, combined with methods of psychological study of artistic creativity. The main stages of the artist’s biography are traced: childhood spent in the Urals, the period of study at the V. I. Surikov Art Institute, further creative activity in Maikop and Krasnodar. The creative method of Barkin the portrait painter is characterized, the features of his approach are analyzed (attention to nature, a combination of realism with emotional depth, aspiration for serial works). Various assessments of the artist’s style are given. The sources, motives and stylistic features of the embodiment of the image of A. S. Pushkin in a series of pictorial, graphic and sculptural portraits reflecting different periods of the brilliant poet’s life are considered. The influence of his wife, a professional philologist, on the master is noted. It is emphasized that V. F. Barkin carefully studied historical and biographical materials, self-portraits of the poet and pictorial works of his predecessors. The key works of V. F. Barkin are analyzed and an art criticism assessment of his Pushkiniana is given. The author notes that the artist avoids monumentality and reveals the Pushkin theme, combining psychologism with historical authenticity. The specificity of the artistic interpretation of the image of Pushkin is manifested in the master’s priority attention to nature, in-depth knowledge of the works and biography of Pushkin, creative perception of the classical artistic heritage, excellent mastery of technique, and a keenly personal perception of the essence of creativity. This approach allows maintaining a balance between tradition and the author’s innovation, and the serial principle of the works emphasizes the versatility of Pushkin’s image.