Elegant Nudes Of Volodja Popov-Masagin: A Warm Homage To Modernist Masters

Volodja Popov-Masagin (b. 1961) is a French artist of Russian origin. Not only the style of his paintings but also an emigrant life follows the typical fate of Russian, Spain, or Japanese artists at the beginning of the XXth century. In his paintings, classified as magic realism, Popov-Masagin skillfully blends the vividness of ukiyo-e with the approaches of Modigliani and Klimt, so if you're a devotee of modernist sensuality, these works may please your eye. 

Fig. 1. Nude on a bright blanket (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Fig. 2. tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com

Fig. 3. tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com

Fig. 4. tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com

Fig. 5. Lying nude (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Fig. 6. Lying nude (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Greeted Abroad

Popov-Masagin was born in Michurinsk (Tambov Oblast, Southwestern Russia). His initial artistic education the painter received in a local art school for juniors. At the age of fifteen, he entered the Abramtsevo Art and Industrial College in Moscow Oblast and graduated four years later. Then, from 1980 to 1988, he studied monumental painting at the Leningrad Vera Mukhina Higher School of Art and Design. After the Soviet Union collapsed, many artists faced a lack of demand for their output, which caused financial problems. Popov-Masagin was among those who managed to find their audience abroad. Since 2000, he has been residing and working in Paris. In 2002, he became a member of the Society of French Artists. The painter has participated in many solo and group exhibitions. His works are placed in private and museum collections in France, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.

Fig. 7. Ira and Murka (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Fig. 8. Sitting on the balcony (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Fig. 9. The Mirror (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Fig. 10. Earring for Natasha’s morning exercise (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Fig. 11. The Full Moon (conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com)

Fig.12.

A Picnic Of The Universe

The canvases of Popov-Masagin accumulate many different genres, from the expressionism of Modigliani's nudes (whom Masagin often makes geishas) to the suprematism of Malevich, although, functioning as a decorative element of the background. Yet, the closest genre which comes to mind when one looks at these vivid depictions of the nudes reclining in the surreal setting is a kids' book illustration. 

In the extended Premium edition you can check out more on the narrative and aesthetics behind Masagin's works,  the bright patchwork-like background of many images, similarities with Salvador Dali, plus 36 additional pics.

Click HERE for sensual monsters in the sketches of Sandro Castelli

Sources: egorovs.art; conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com; m.blog.naver.com

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