Russian art expert Vladimir Kostin on the art of moses feigin

Noted Russian art critic Vladimir Kostin (1905-1991) on Moses Feigin’s art: Moses Feign (born in 1904) finished his studies at “Vchutemas” in 1927. His teachers were A. Osmerkin, I. Mashkov, D. Shterenberg, R. Falk and other great masters of painting.

Typical of Feigin’s painting is an intense dramatic nature, and reflection of deeply internal experiences. He often rendered multiples or series of works. Of great interest, among them, are Feigin’s extensive series devoted to the circus, street musicians and Charlie Chaplin. Exhibited with Feigin’s works were noted titles like “Damnation to War”, “Reportage with a loop on a neck”, “To the memory of Block” and “Dialogue” etc.

With his nimble use of painting styles, the artist each time responds to his essential need to communicate with us about his experience and the experience of the people of his generation. In his creativity, Feigin has addressed not only to traditions of the idols of his youth, but also to a rich heritage of the whole progressive world of art. In particular, very much close to him as an artist appeared to be Picasso.

Feigin’s creative search and elements of his picturesque system are perceived today on the common background of domestic art as rather traditional and natural. In recent times occurrence of the best paintings of V. Popkov, P. and A. Smolin’s brothers, M. Savitsky and many other artists, including youth, testify that intense and expressive beginning in our art does not disappear, but only finds new qualities of expressiveness. In a vein of these searches, it is necessary to consider Feigin’s creativity. Irrespective of a format and a material, all his works are very constructive and verified as compositions. All compositions are rather mobile, than static.

The artist is not writing large paintings in his last years, but often is coming back to his earlier creations, “brushtouches” this or that canvas and “eternal” images of art appeare: Harlequin in his dazzling rags clothes, the Musician, declined to his violin, or less eternal Chaplin. It is necessary to possess very big moral health and belief in his calling that on a slope of his years so concentrated and so musical, so youthfully declare himself to spectators as it was made by Moses Feigin at this exhibition.