Leonid Pasternak

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Leonid Pasternak - self-portrait (1908, Pskov)

Leonid Pasternak
Born	Leonid Osipovich Pasternak April 3, 1862 Odessa, Russian Empire
Died	May 31, 1945 Oxford, England
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Painter, Illustrator
Spouse(s)	Rosa Kaufman
Children	Boris Pasternak, Josephine Pasternak, Lydia Pasternak, Alexander Pasternak

Leonid Osipovich Pasternak (April 3, 1862 – May 31, 1945) was a Russian post-impressionist painter and illustrator. He was the father of the famous poet and novelist Boris Pasternak, who authored the renowned novel Doctor Zhivago.

Early Life

Leonid Pasternak was born in Odessa, in the Russian Empire (now Ukraine). He was the youngest of six children in a Jewish family. His father, Osip Pasternak, was a grain merchant, and his mother, Fanya Pasternak, was a housewife. From an early age, Leonid showed a talent for art and was encouraged by his family to pursue his passion.

Education

Pasternak studied at the Odessa Drawing School and later at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid. He also attended the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, where he was influenced by the German realist and impressionist movements.

Career

Leonid Pasternak's career as an artist began in earnest when he moved to Moscow in the 1880s. He became a member of the Peredvizhniki, a group of Russian realist artists who protested against academic restrictions. Pasternak was known for his portraits and genre paintings, capturing the lives of ordinary people with sensitivity and detail.

He also gained recognition as an illustrator, particularly for his work on Leo Tolstoy's novels. Pasternak's illustrations for War and Peace and Anna Karenina are considered some of the finest examples of literary illustration.

Personal Life

In 1889, Pasternak married Rosa Kaufman, a talented pianist. The couple had four children: Boris Pasternak, who would become a Nobel Prize-winning author; Josephine Pasternak, a chemist and writer; Lydia Pasternak, a translator and poet; and Alexander Pasternak, an architect.

Later Years and Death

In 1921, Pasternak and his family moved to Berlin due to the political upheaval in Russia. He continued to paint and exhibit his work throughout Europe. In 1938, with the rise of the Nazi regime, Pasternak moved to England, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in Oxford in 1945.

Legacy

Leonid Pasternak's work is celebrated for its emotional depth and technical skill. His contributions to Russian art and literary illustration have left a lasting impact. His paintings and illustrations are held in numerous collections, including the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the State Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.

Selected Works

• Portrait of Leo Tolstoy
• Illustrations for War and Peace
• Illustrations for Anna Karenina
• Self-Portrait with Family

See Also

• Boris Pasternak
• Peredvizhniki
• Leo Tolstoy
• Russian art