Coquettes And Concubines Depicted By The Russian Artist Konstantin Razumov

Many little girls and also some boys like to play with dolls during their childhood. When we think of a doll appearance, some of us may remind of the American Barbie type with her Hollywood smile and blonde hair, but there's also a European stereotype tracing back to medieval standards of female beauty: rosy cheeks, a small mouth with full red lips, large eyes, frequently blue, and curly blond hair. Russian artist Konstantin Razumov (b. 1974) reproduces this recognizable type of an eternally young coquette sitting at the table of a Parisian cafe or at the edge of a seraglio pool with water lilies. 

Fig. 1. Konstantin Razumov (autogear.ru)

Fig. 2. A Wonderful Smile (twitter.com) 

Fig. 3. Foot Bath

Fig. 4. Lying nude (twitter.com)

Fig. 5. Semi nude in front of a mirror

Fig. 6. Semi-Nude Girl with Red Stockings

Fig. 7. Nude bathers (tumblr.com)

Fig. 8. Sunbathing female (bestweapon.ru)

Fig. 9. Young Lady in Her Boudoir (art.mirtesen.ru)

Fig. 10. A Naked Girl Sitting on a Bed, Adjusting Her Shoe, in front of a Mirror 

Impressionist Pin-Up

Konstantin Razumov was born in Zarinsk (southern Siberia). To develop his artistic skills, Razumov relocated to Moscow in the 1990s to receive training from the artist Ilya Glazunov at the Academy of Arts. In the 2000s, the artist started selling his works at international auctions, and that's all you can find about him on the web. Razumov works in a portrait genre with oil as the main medium. He depicts kids and animals, but his trademark is charming coquettes portrayed on Parisian streets as strangers, at the Moulin Rouge as showgirls, in their boudoirs as sex fairies, or in a seraglio as sultan's concubines, always lavishly dressed, even if there're only stockings and underwear. The background in the pictures may evoke in your mind impressionist canvases executed in thick brushstrokes and filled with light. It seems that the most exact definition of Razumov's art will be impressionist pin-up.

Fig. 11. Odalisque with flowers 

Fig. 12. Study of a Ballerina tying her Shoe (tumblr.com)

Fig. 13. Moulin Rouge dancers (tumglr.com)

Fig. 14. Elegant girl sitting on the bed

Fig. 15.

Fig. 16. In the Boudoir (liveinternet.ru)

Fig. 17. In the Hammock (facebook.com)

Fig. 18. Odalisque (catherinelarosepoesiaearte.com)

Fig. 19. Odalisque at the pool’s edge (catherinelarosepoesiaearte.com)

Fig.21. In the Art Studio

Image Of Painter

Razumov's fascination with the 19th century is manifested especially in his work In the Art Studio (Fig. 21). The model is depicted together with the artist who sketches her figure. Both characters have old-fashioned looks: the model holds a dressing of that epoch, and the artist wears a white blouse and chic jacket, thus, embodying the idealistic image of the painter from good old times, whose relatively spacious workplace is filled with sunlight. This master is a possible alter-ego of Razumov. We can suppose that this elegant man from the picture earns a living by depicting flirtatious fairies. He satisfies the aesthetic needs of rich clients, especially, if the fairy is a mistress of a wealthy commissioner. 

Fig. 22. Nude harem beauty

Fig. 23. The Harem Favorite (liveinternet.ru)

Fig.24. Topless dancer

Fig. 25. In the Garden (liveinternet.ru)

Fig. 26. A Spring Day (liveinternet.ru)

Fig. 27. May Sun (liveinternet.ru)

Fig.28. Topless dancer

Fig. 29. Reclining nude (liveinternet.ru)

One Of A Kind

Besides impressionists, Razumov is also similar to Pre-Raphaelites in their manner to portray many heroines with one face. In particular, this approach was typical for Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who depicted models of the same appearances. Razumov's favorite model has a doll face resembling females from Victorian postcards and later pin-up beauties advertising perfume and cosmetics.  

Fig. 30. Happy Hour (liveinternet.ru)

Fig.31. In Front of the Mirror 

Too Much Elegance

Another curious image is entitled Happy Hour (Fig. 30). At first sight, we see an ordinary pair at the table in a street cafe. Nevertheless, the contrasting depiction of young females in the background draws our attention. While in the picture discussed above, we mentioned the similarity of characters, this time, the figures apparently differ. In comparison to fresh but ordinary girls, the beauty in the ...

Continue reading in Premium and check out the second part of this article with more background on the specific type of females Razumov portrays and the mystic aura they possess, a poem on the eternal feminine and much more enticing images.

Click HERE for the erotic masquerades of the enigmatic painter Andrea Alciato

Sources: hyper-stars.ru; catherinelarosepoesiaearte.com; ruverses.com

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