Antonov, Fedor Vasilievich

Fedor Vasilievich Antonov was a Soviet painter, muralist, graphic artist, and a textile artist. He studied at the Tambov Real School (later, Tambov State Free Workshops), an institution for training technical specialists. Antonov was sent to Moscow with the Komsomol where he studied at VKhUTEMAS (Higher Art and Technical Studios) from 1922 to 1929 under the noted Soviet-era realist painter, Sergei Vasilevich Gerasimov. In 1929, Antonov graduated from the textile department of VKhUTEMAS and he continued to live and work in Moscow. The artist also was engaged in academics and taught at MIPIDI (Moscow Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts).

During the 1920s, propaganda art became integrated into Soviet society and it was in this era that Antonov came to be involved in the design of political posters. For IZOGIZ Publishing, the artist created numerous war-time posters such as: “Red Army Soldier! Do Not give your Beloved to the Shame and Dishonor of Nazi soldiers” (1942); “Surround with Care the Children who Suffered from Fascist Barbarians!” (1942); "I Want to Live!" (1943), “Glory to Soviet Mothers!” (1944), and "Thanks to the Red Army - the Liberator!" (1945). Antonov also designed posters for the TASS (Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union) artist studio. Some of the titles were: "Be on your Guard!"; "A Father's order of Battle"; "Comrades! Let's Fulfill the Annual Plan by the Day of the Stalin Constitution!".

During the Second World War, Fedor Antonov created a memento to the era with his depiction of three Soviet battle heroes in his work, “Three Ivans” (1942). The painting featured three military pilots -- Ivan Shumilov, Ivan Zabolotnii and Ivan Golubin -- who all served in the war.

The artist began to exhibit professionally in 1928 and was featured in the following exhibitions: "First Art Exhibition of Soviet Domestic Textiles" (Moscow, 1928); the 11th Exhibition of the A.Kh.R.R.: "Art for the Masses" (1929, Moscow); “Exhibition of the Reports of Works by Artists Sent to Industrial and Collective Farm Construction Districts" (1931, Moscow); "Artists of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic over 15 Years” held at the State Historical Museum (1933, Moscow, and in 1934, Leningrad). Antonov was featured in Moscow solo exhibitions of 1934, 1954, and 1964. The artist’s work was also featured in Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Bulgaria, and Germany.

In 1927, Antonov joined OST (Obshchestvo khudozhnikov-stankovistov), the Society of Easel Artists. When OST was disbanded, he became a member of IzoBrigada (Art Brigade) that was formed in 1931 to advance "political realism" in art. IzoBrigada was disbanded in 1932. Antonov was a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. In 1975, he was bestowed the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR.