BIOGRAPHY 

OF 

LEV RUSSOV

LEV RUSSOV

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lev Alexandrovich Russov (1926–1987)
Profession: Soviet painter, graphic artist, and sculptor
Movement: Leningrad School of Painting / Soviet Realism
Known for: Portraits, historical genre paintings, still lifes, sculpture
Nationality: Soviet (Russian)
Birth: January 31, 1926 – Leningrad, USSR
Death: February 20, 1987 – Leningrad, USSR
Education and Early Life

Russov began studying art in 1939 at a district art studio in Vyborg, Leningrad.

In 1941, during the Siege of Leningrad, he was evacuated with his mother to the Gorky region.

He continued his art studies in Kostroma in 1943.

In 1945, he returned to Leningrad and studied at the Tavricheskaya Art School, graduating in 1947.

Later, he entered the Painting Department of the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (Repin Institute), where he studied under renowned artists like Yuri Neprintsev. However, he had to leave after two years due to health issues.
Artistic Career

Between 1951 and 1955, Russov worked as a drawing teacher in secondary schools while continuing his artistic development.He first exhibited in 1954 and became a member of the Leningrad Union of Artists in 1955.

His early works included historical paintings inspired by Charles De Coster’s novel The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel.
He became especially well-known for his portraits, painted between the late 1950s and 1960s. These works are noted for:
Strong composition
Psychological depth
Unconventional angles
Loose, expressive brushwork
Pearly, violet-toned color palettes
Notable Portraits:Portrait of Catherine Balebina (1956)
Portrait of Yevgeny Mravinsky (1957)
In the mid-1960s, he expanded into wood sculpture, creating large pieces inspired by Russian folklore, such as:
Russian Icarus
Zastava
Folk Singers
His only solo exhibition during his lifetime took place in 1970 at the Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Leningrad.

Artistic Style and Significance

Russov’s portraits capture fleeting natural expressions and emotions, often with a sense of intimacy and realism that transcended the boundaries of state-imposed Socialist Realism.

He is considered a key representative of the Leningrad School, which emphasized high technical skill, color sensitivity, and individual expression within Soviet artistic constraints.

His works are held in museums and private collections in Russia, the UK, USA, France, Sweden, and Norway.

Personal Life

In 1955, Russov met Ekaterina Vasilievna Balebina, who became his wife in 1959 and muse for several paintings.

Their son, Andrei Lvovich Russov, was born in 1960.

Russov lost one of his eyes in his youth (possibly due to a whip accident), which made him shy away from being photographed.

Death and Legacy

Lev Russov died on February 20, 1987, of heart failure in Leningrad.

After his death, his work has gained renewed attention, especially as part of exhibitions devoted to the Leningrad School of Painting.His art is now appreciated for its emotional depth, artistic independence, and technical mastery.