DOBUZHINSKY Mstislav Valerianovich

Russian artist, graphic artist, stage designer, art critic.

He studied painting at the Drawing School with the Society for the Encouragement of Arts (1885-1887), at Anton Aschbe’s school and Simon Hollosy’s school in Munich (1899-1901), took engraving and etching lessons from Vasily Mathe at the Academy of Arts. In 1902, he became a member of the Mir iskusstva [“The World of Art'] association, designed the Mir iskusstva, Zolotoye runo [“Golden Fleece”], and Apollon [“Apollo”] magazines. Very soon, he showed himself as a master of urban landscape. In 1906, Dobuzhinsky travelled in Europe, exhibited his works at the Salon d’Automne (Autumn Salon) in Paris and at the Secession in Berlin. When back in Russia, he gave private lessons, travelled, worked as an interior decorator. In 1907, he met Konstantin Stanislavsky, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Vera Komissarzhevskaya, and Fyodor Komissarzhevsky and produced his first works as a scene designer. Then in 1914, he designed for Diaghilev’s company in Paris (Midas, Papillions). In 1908, Dobuzhinsky worked for the Satirikon magazine and for newly created Mir iskusstva.

After the October upheaval of 1917 he taught in arts institutes, was involved in organizing artistic education in Soviet Russia. In 1925, he took Lithuanian citizenship, and from 1939 lived and worked in the UK and in the USA.