For nearly 60 years, two renowned artist-brothers have painted together, often on the same canvas, chronicling one of history's most dramatic periods through the eyes of Russian villagers. Impressionists Sergei and Aleksei Tkachev have been awarded the most coveted prizes in the art world of the former USSR and the Russian Federation, telling their nation's stories as they lived it under Communism, perestroika and the current system as it struggles toward democracy. This is the first book in the English language to be published on these remarkable brothers. Their paintings, all reproduced in color, are scenes of collective happiness and collective farms; of gorgeous landscapes and ravaged faces; of tremendous joy and overwhelming tragedy. Few artists have such vast resources on which to draw; even fewer have the immense talent to reproduce their memoirs so eloquently in oil. Photographs from their personal album acquaint the reader with family and other leading artists with whom they painted at the Academic Dacha. Now nearing 80, they continue to lavish themselves on their canvases with great zeal and dedication. The art world is richer for it. To order contact TMORA, 11300 Hampshire Av. S., Bloomington, MN 55438, 952-914-0200. V, MC, AE accepted. Or email: [email protected]. Price: $60 plus $7.50 shipping and Minnesota sales tax $3.90.

The 1860s were marked by a strong realistic movement in Russian painting. Artists became interested in depicting the lives and customs of their fellow countrymen. This new art form was mostly the work of the Itinerants group, who wanted to take art to the people and paint the outdoors. Mikhail Guerman traces the converging lines of Russian and French art in the immensely fertile period of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Defining an artistic era or movement is often a difficult task, as one tries to group individualistic expressions and artwork under one broad brush. Such is the case with impressionism, which culls together the art of a multitude of painters in the mid-19th century, including Monet, Cézanne, Renoir, Degas, and van Gogh. Basically, impressionism involved the shedding of traditional painting methods. The subjects of art were taken from everyday life, as opposed to the pages of mythology and history. In addition, each artist painted to express feelings of the moment instead of hewing to time-honoured standards. This description of impressionism, obviously, is quite broad and can apply to a wide array of styles. Nonetheless, it remains a very important school in the annals of art. Any current or budding art aficionado should become familiar with the impressionist movement and its impact on the art world. This book presents a sweeping study of this artistic period, from its origins to its manifestations in the works of some of art history's most revered painters. Following this overview is a substantial and selective bibliography, featuring access through author, title, and subject indexes.

Seventy-seven artists are represented with paintings created at the height of their careers.