English: all inclusive

«Portrait of E.V. Derviz, Daughter of Artist V.D. Derviz». 1906-1910. Ivan Efimov. Porcelain. Dimensions: 25×27 cm. Tactile model. Plastic. A low sculptural relief depicting a female profile facing right. The contour of the face is clear and well-defined, with a distinct nose featuring a slight bridge. The eyes are set deep beneath the brows, with a direct gaze. The young woman’s hairstyle is traditional: her hair is swept upward from the forehead, partly braided into a plait at the back of the head, and gathered into a bun. The creative work of the renowned sculptor, graphic artist, illustrator, animalier, theater artist, reformer of puppet theater, and professor Ivan Semyonovich Efimov (1878–1959) belongs to the Soviet period. The artist’s creative interests were broad. Works by I.S. Efimov adorn stations of the Moscow Metro, the Yaroslavl and Leningrad railway stations in Moscow, the Khimki River Terminal, sanatoriums in Morozovka near Moscow, in Tskhaltubo (Georgia) and Sochi, as well as interiors of the Pushkin House in St. Petersburg. Ivan Efimov’s work is primarily dedicated to the animalistic genre. However, his extensive legacy also includes portraits of contemporaries, such as the presented portraits of E. Derviz and A. Bely. These portraits were created during the early period of the artist’s career, in the 1900s. At that time, he worked in «Abramtsevo,» the pottery workshop of Savva Mamontov, a famous theater director and patron of the arts. The presented portraits share several similarities (time of creation, material—both are made of porcelain—and their small format). However, they differ in their interpretation of the subjects. The modeling of the girl’s face appears classically concise and severe, yet the author succeeded in conveying the model’s character. It is worth noting that the portrait of E. Derviz, like that of A. Bely, is an intimate chamber work, almost private in nature. Such sculptural portraits were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries and were intended for domestic interiors. by Irina Savenko

«Portrait of the Writer Andrei Bely». 1907. Ivan Efimov. Porcelain. Dimensions: 22×26 cm. Tactile model. Plastic. This relief portrait depicts a male profile facing left, executed in a free-flowing style. The facial features are somewhat softened: the gentle line of the nose and forehead, the faint mustache above the upper lip, and the loosely swept-back hair convey the liveliness and impetuous character of the subject. The barely suggested collar of the garment and the uneven, textured background indicate the preparatory stage of the relief’s execution. The combination of this irregular background with the delicate, subtle rendering of the young writer’s face creates a striking contrast, emphasizing the rebellious spirit of the subject. Executed in a highly unrestrained manner, the relief demonstrates the high professional skill of the sculptor I. Efimov, who managed to capture a convincing and memorable image even in a small format. This depiction of a young man in profile represents Andrei Bely as he appeared at the time. His face is oriented as if facing E.V. Derviz, and the relief shares the same dimensions and is likewise made of porcelain. Thus, these two reliefs form a pair. However, the portrait of Andrei Bely differs entirely in its interpretation and modeling: his profile lacks clear contours, and the sculpting manner is freely impressionistic, «unfinished,» as if the artist made a swift sketch from life. by Irina Savenko