Geo&Bio (Jul 2022)
Vsevolod Averin (1889–1946), master of the Ukrainian school of animaliers and graphic artists
Abstract
This article could have also been titled as ‘The little-known artist Vs. Averin.’ The impetus for its writing was the need to overcome post-Soviet propaganda, which invented the brand ‘Ukrainian Soviet artist’ and used it actively to sovietize biographies of Ukrainian artists. Vs. Averin is one of those artists. However, the Soviet style permeated Averin’s art independently through Averin’s presence in respective associations, unions, exhibitions, and publishing houses for which he acted professionally. In the same way, some of Averin’s art was adjusted artificially to the requirements of the Soviet system. Averin also illustrated memories of former revolutionists, he was among those who allegedly supported the Soviet collective farms, and he sympathized ostensibly with the ‘reunification of Ukraine and Russia’, and so on. The truth is that the work on the agitprop took away the artist’s time, which he could have used in other circumstances, in particular for painting. The author draws attention to many other things that are not yet voiced by the biographers. Averin had started with illustrating books before he entered art school, and in many ways he helped colleagues of his zoologist brother. Vsevolod was interested in everything that helped him to strengthen graphics, in particular through the usage of Egyptian and astrophysical symbols, occasionally photography. He created nice autolithographs for VUSOR—a legacy that remains unnoticed by exhibitioners today. The artist contributed a lot to the development of bookplates, trademarks, posters, stands, emblems, badges, covers, pictures for magazines, tokens, diplomas, letters of commendation, invitations, membership cards, as well as other items to advertise hunting and fishing equipment. He illustrated texts for famous writers and zoologists, including O. Vyshnya, Vikt. Averin, L. Portenko, M. Charlemagne, and others. He was the author of portraits of some educators, including T. Shevchenko. Some articles and books he published himself, such as ‘Interesting Plants’ and ‘Straw Bull’ (in Ukrainian). In the history of art, Averin will remain as a native of Kharkiv Oblast (Ukraine) and as a talented master of the national school of animaliers and graphic artists.
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