Ivanov, Sergei Ivanovich

Sergei Ivanovich Ivanov was a Russian and Soviet painter and a graphic artist. Ivanov studied at the Stroganov Central School of Industrial Art from 1897 to 1907. From 1907 to 1916, he continued his education at MUZhVZ (Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture). Early in his career, the artist painted portraits of actors and he created designs for scenery and costumes for the theatrical productions of the Second Studio of the Moscow Art Theater, the Bolshoi Theater, and the Stanislavsky Opera Theater. He was chief artist of the Maly Theater from 1924 to 1940. Ivanov was also engaged in decoration production for revolutionary holidays.

Sergei Ivanov was a member of the Moscow-based Union of Painters and Poets (a.k.a. Makovets), and when Makovets dissolved, he joined the Society of Moscow Artists (OMKh).

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Ivanov began designing propaganda posters. His numerous works in this field include, “May 1st Long live the international holiday of workers” (c. 1919); “A book is nothing else but a man addressing the public” (1920); “Everybody To Work. Every stroke of the mallet will lessen economic damage”, and “Railway worker, keep guard over the Red Railway” (both, c. 1920); and “Long Live the Third Communist International!” (c. 1921) designed for the Third World Congress of the Communist International held in Moscow from June to July in 1921. Sergei Ivanovich Ivanov died during the war-time evacuation in Samarkand, Uzbek SSR.