Pavel Zhukov is a photographer whose name today few people remember. Meanwhile, it was this master who made the most famous photo portrait of the leader of the proletariat Vladimir Lenin. Many of his works are still published in school textbooks.
Biography
Pavel Zhukov was born in 1870 in Simbirsk in a family with 19 children. His father Semyon Zhukov was a “cold shoemaker” - the so-called masters who made light shoes that were not insulated. Educated at the gymnasium of the city of Simbirsk. In 1882, he was awarded the Letters of Honor signed by Ilya Nikolayevich Ulyanov.
Paul’s parents had only one daughter, all the rest were sons. At that time, children began a career early, as it was difficult to feed. Therefore, Paul "went into the people" early, at 12 years old. To this end, he was sent to a relative in Petersburg.
His aunt lived well at that time. Her husband Konstantin Shapiro had his own workshop on Nevsky Prospect and was quite famous in the city. Pavel Zhukov entered his disciples. Training with the master did not last long, since Shapiro soon separated from his wife, and they began to live separately. In addition, Shapiro’s character was not pleasant, which also played a role in the separation of the master and student.
Portrait of a young woman, 1911.
Further, information about Zhukov’s education diverges. According to some sources, he decided to change his line of business and mastered playing the flute. At the same time, P. Zhukov met with the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova, with whom she would then maintain friendly relations for a long time. After graduating from the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he tried to get into the troupe of the Mariinsky Theater, but did not pass the competition. Then he tried his luck at the Italian Opera - he joined the troupe and performed for some time with musicians in different cities.
According to other sources, he studied at the St. Petersburg School of the Promotion of Arts, and then at the Roman Academy of Arts.
Portrait of Pavel Semenovich Zhukov.
Beetles returned to photography in 1903. To do this, rents a room on Stremyannaya street. His first teacher in this craft, K. Shapiro, died in 1900, leaving his institution as a legacy to his son Vladimir. The photo workshop at that time was going through hard times, so Vladimir Shapiro offered Zhukov cooperation and for some time they worked together.
In 1906, Zhukov bought the workshop completely, but left Shapiro's name on the mat for photographs and a sign. Already in these years, Zhukov was making portraits of Tolstoy, Chekhov, Kuprin, Tchaikovsky and members of the royal family. In modern literature textbooks, photographs of famous writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries are most likely his works.
In 1906, Zhukov became a photographer at the Imperial Academy of Arts. Organizes lessons for amateurs and professionals. In 1912 he opened a second studio. These workshops remained the property of Zhukov until 1918.
Soviet time
When the regime changed, Pavel Zhukov did not oppose the new order and immediately decided to cooperate. In the Petrograd Military District, a photo-film-bureau was organized, in which the photographer now worked. In 1920, he was appointed the chief photographer from the political department in the district and traveling along the fronts began. Zhukov removes military leaders, ordinary fighters, significant events.
Enlightened people solemnly take patronage over the troops of the Petrograd Military District. 1923 year.
In 1926, Pavel Semenovich was wounded, and the doctors decided on his commission. He returns to the city and now prefers social and teaching activities. He leads the circle and gives lectures, "Fundamentals of Art Photography." The era of the Soviet five-year plans has begun, and Zhukov is making photo stories about production endeavors - ship construction, production processes at metallurgical plants, and the construction of the Volkhov hydroelectric power station fall into his lens.
