Founder of realistic easel painting in Azerbaijan turns 125

By Laman Ismayilova

Visual art is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful forms of the art that gives a man an opportunity to observe the beautiful world and travel through time. 

An easel painting, a midsize painting that have been painted on an easel, remains immutable and timeless. 

Most easel paintings are intended for display framed and hanging on a wall.

Bahruz Kangarli was one of the first professional representatives of Azerbaijani visual arts and was the founder of realistic easel painting in Azerbaijan.

He was homeschooled child because of disability to attend a comprehensive secondary school.

In 1910, he went to Tiflis with the support of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh and entered the Tiflis School of Arts under the Society of Encouragement of Fine Arts.

Various satirical magazines in the prerevolutionary period, especially Molla Nasraddin magazine based in Baku published Kangarli's works, next to satirical paintings by Azim Azimzade, whom Kangarli was inspired by.

The landscape genre took up a great place in his creativity.

Artist's watercolor paintings depicting the nature of his native land include "Waterfall", "Agridag", "The road in Yakhshan village", "Ilanly mountain under the moonlight", "Russian church in Nakhchivan", "Before rising time of the Sun", and "Spring".

Cultural monuments were portrayed in his landscapes "Momine Khatun Mausoleum", "Ashabi-kahf Mountain", and "Prophet Noah's grave".

Kangarli also created portraits of his contemporaries, including "An old man", "A Georgian", and a series of paintings called "Refugees".

His album called "Memories of Nakhchivan" with his 20 landscapes is currently kept in the Azerbaijan State Museum of Art.

The graphic artist was known for his free exhibitions.

He exhibited more than 500 works of himself at the first exhibition organized with Revcom's assistance, in 1921, in Azerbaijan. This exhibition was of great importance to him, and Kangarli donated one third of the money raised to an orphanage.

Artist, who died in the young age of 30 years, left an artistic legacy of more than 2,000 artworks created during his short creative activity of seven years.

On May  22, 2007, Kangarli's home-museum was established in Nakhchivan, and a monument was erected on the his grave.

This year marks the 125 anniversary of Bahruz Kangarli, one of the first representatives of the professional fine arts of Azerbaijan and the national founder of realistic painting.