All works by Yevgeni Kazantsev reveal the originality of his artistic outlook. Kazantsev is a vivid example of artists able to see and convey the peculiar spirits and splendour of Russian broad expanses, as well as transient sensations of people and miraculous beauty of ordinary things. The creation of this modern painter is deeply rooted in classical traditions of Russian masters.

Yevgeni Alexandrovich Kazantsev was born on December 14, 1948 in the town of Stepnyak into the family of a mining engineer. He started his creative career in 1964, in Penza Art College named after Savitsky, one of the oldest artistic educational institutions of Russia. Afterwards the young artist continued his education at the Moscow Surikov Art Institute, in the workshops of the famous artists Alexei Gritsai and Yuri Korolyov.

The painter’s first independent steps are associated with the town of Tolyatti, where he was assigned to after graduating. In that small provincial town on the Volga River Kazantsev worked in the sphere of monumental painting, at the same time turning to easel painting.

The 1980s marked the beginning of the artist’s new development stage. The manner of painting became more emotional and spontaneous, while his palette was enriched with subtle colour shades and complicated gradations.
The creation of Yevgeni Alexandrovich is diverse in genre. He is both into landscape and still-life, portrait and genre painting. His peculiar painting temperament makes his works memorable.

Kazantsev turns to historic theme as well, in particular, to the events of the Great Patriotic War. The Moscow exhibitions dedicated to the jubilees of the victory over fascism displayed his paintings “Soldiers. 1941” (in 1985) and “Women. 1941” (in 1990). In 2005 his works were exhibited at the exposition “Victory” in the Central House of Artist (Moscow), and in 2006 he took part in the All-Russian Landscape Exhibition in Vologda.

His personal exhibitions were held in Moscow, as well as in the towns of Pushchino and Serpukhov located in the Moscow region.

Kazantsev’s paintings are on display in the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War (Moscow), in the Museum of Moscow Defense (Moscow), in the Historic and Art Museum of Serpukhov, the Ecology Museum in Pushchino, in museums of Tolyatti and Veliki Ustyug. Apart from Russian museums, his works are kept in Russian and foreign private collections.

The artist travels a lot around Russia, making fruitful trips to Solovki, Veliki Ustyug, and other picturesque and remarkable corners of this country. While working on the painting “D. D. Shostakovich, Leningrad, 1941” he repeatedly visited St. Petersburg to study in detail the material for his future painting.

Yevgeni Kazantsev works and lives in Moscow. At present along with his creative activity he teaches drawing at the Moscow Architectural Institute. In 2006 he has been conferred with the rank of the Honored Artist of Russia.

“As an artist I do not see my work without traditions. My favourite artists are Ilya Repin, Vasilii Surikov, Alexei Savrasov, Valentin Serov, Konstantin Korovin, Stanislav Zhukovsky and many other painters who created the Russian painting school. While admiring the works by favourite artists I can better see my own imperfections. But, however perfect the paintings of my favourite artists might be, I generally tend to trust my own feelings more, and, which is most important, to trust nature as the mother of all being”, - the painter says.

Photos of the artist’s following works are used:
1) Young Artist (1973)
2) Plan “Bar Barossa”. German Cemetery. (2005)
3) D. D. Shostakovich, Leningrad, 1941 (1984)
4) March. Old House (1987)
5) A Sunday in Tolyatti (1983)

Sources:
    pushchino.info
and the artist’s album

Vera Ivanova and Mikhail Manykin