Wood carving by Kronid Gogolev
A talented master wood-carver, Kronid Gogolev is the author of incredibly detailed artworks inspired by the rural and provincial life of Russia’s northern regions. Using simple tools, he is able to turn rough pieces of wood into masterpiece depicting the way of life and the traditions of the Russian northern village, capturing its original beauty.
Kronid Aleksandrovich Gogolev (July 13, 1926, the village of Prut, Poddorsky District, Novgorod Province – April 10, 2013, Sortavala, Republic of Karelia) – People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of Russia, Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Karelian ASSR.

In addition, Gogolev – author of numerous paintings, wooden sculptures. However, the greatest recognition and fame brought him his job – a relief carving. As a rule, carved composition were performed by the artist on a specially prepared linden shield in monolithic technology – without the use of laminated parts. Artist spent a great job with hints of wood, in particular, achieving the necessary experience for the works devoted to the winter time. In addition to the fairy-tale scenes in the artist’s work can be found cityscape – Sortavala, Petrozavodsk, Valaam. His collection also includes biblical subjects (work – “The Last Supper”), compositions of the epic “Kalevala”.

Works of Gogolev are in the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts in Moscow Polytechnic Museum, the Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg, the Museum on the island of Valaam, in private collections in the United States, Japan, Germany, Finland and Sweden. In particular, the artist’s works are in private collection of Vladimir Putin, Boris Yeltsin’s family, Anatoly Chubais, and many other well-known Russian and foreign persons.

Wood carving by Kronid Gogolev

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