Born 1889, Wenden, Switzerland- Died 1938, executed by shooting squad
Painter, graphic artist
Paintings Biography 
Paintings
Landscape With a Fence. 1911-1912.
Oil on canvas, 43.5x54 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Received in 1942 from sculptor Theodor Zalkalis.
Landscape. Study. 1912.
Oil on canvas, 51.5x68.5 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Donated in 1993 from sculptor Burkards Dzenis.
Playing Cards. Self Portrait. 1915.
Oil on canvas, 80x66.5 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1987 from Lidia Palepa-Ubane.
A Red Pitcher. 1915.
Oil on canvas, 80x79 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Evening Meal. 1915.
Oil on canvas, 80x79 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
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Portrait of a Woman. 1915. Was used later in the painting "Refugees. At the Table."
Oil on canvas, 72x67.5 cm.
Azeibarjan State Museum of Arts, Baku.
Refugees. At the Table. 1916.
Oil on canvas, 100x100 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Received in 1937 from sculptor Theodor Zalkalis.
A Refugee (A Girl In Blue). 1916.
Oil on canvas, 100x89 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
A Refugee. A Woman in a White Head Scarf. 1917.
Oil on canvas, 92x74 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Free Composition of Color Masses. 1918. On the back side: Nude. 1930 (see below).
Oil on canvas, 95x142 cm.
The State Museum of Modern Art, Collection of G.Kostakis, Saloniki.
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Suprematism (Abstraction). 1921.
Oil on canvas, 107.2x86.8 cm.
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven Collection of the Societe Anonyme.
Non-objective Painting. Colorful Composition. 1921.
Oil on canvas, 124x96.2 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
Landscape. In Yazykovo. 1923.
Oil on canvas, 84x102 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1986 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
Self Portrait. 1923.
Oil on canvas, 62.2x59 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Received in 1979 from A.Drevin, Artist's son.
Portret of Nadezhda Udaltzova, the Artist's Wife. 1923.
Oil on canvas, 76x65 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg. Received in 1972 from A.Drevin, Artist's son.
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Early Spring. 1924.
Oil on canvas, 85x103 cm.
Museum "Arbat Prestige", Moscow. Received in 1996 from N.Araptov.
City of Dmitrov. 1924.
Oil on canvas, 72x93 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1959 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
Field of Oats. 1924.
Oil on canvas, 88.5x106 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Portrait of the Artist's Nanny. 1925.
Oil on canvas, 56x47 cm.
Collection of V.S.Mikhailovich, Moscow.
Portrait of the Artist's Nanny. Drawing. 1925.
Pencil on paper, 30x18 cm.
Collection of G.E.Minsker, Moscow.
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Self Portrait. 1926.
Oil on canvas, 71x77 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1959 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
Portrait of the Artist's Son Andrei. 1926.
Oil on canvas, 49x36 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
The Old Woman Mountain. Ural. 1927.
Oil on canvas, 73x91 cm.
Private collection, Moscow.
Altai Landscape. 1928-1929.
Oil on canvas, 90.5x73.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Purchased in 1930 from the Artist.
Winter. A View From the Window. 1929.
Oil on canvas, 89.7x71 cm.
Novosibirsk Picture Gallery. Purchased in 1987 from E.Drevin, Artist's granddaughter.
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Dry Birch. 1929.
Oil on canvas, 60.8x70 cm.
Private collection, Moscow.
Altai. Tributary of River Charysh. 1930.
Oil on canvas, 60x70 cm.
Novosibirsk Picture Gallery. Purchased in 1987 from E.Drevin, Artist's granddaughter.
Altai. Going to Work. Sketch. 1930-1931.
Oil on canvas, 60x70 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Donated in 1977 by G.Kostakis.
Altai. A Dry Birch. 1930.
Oil on canvas (doubled), 60x69 cm.
Museum of Russian Art, collection of professor A.Abramian, Yerevan.
The River Charysh Valey. 1930.
Oil on canvas, 59x70 cm.
Altai State Museum of Art, Barnaul.
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A Bush. 1930.
Oil on canvas, 69x88.4 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Donated in 1977 by G.Kostakis.
Landscape With a House. 1930.
Oil on canvas, 85x103 cm.
Museum "Arbat Prestige", Moscow. Received in 2002 from collection of E.Chudnovskaya.
Two Roes. 1930s.
Oil on canvas, 62.5x76.8 cm.
Museum "Arbat Prestige", Moscow. Received in 2002 from collection of E.Chudnovskaya.
A Woman With Long Hair (A Woman Combing Her Hair). 1930-1931.
Oil on canvas, 73.8x90.4 cm.
The State Museum of Modern Art, Collection of G.Kostakis, Saloniki.
Nude. 1930. On the back side: Free Composition of Color Masses. 1918 (see above).
Oil on canvas, 95x142 cm.
The State Museum of Modern Art, Collection of G.Kostakis, Saloniki.
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Gazelles. 1930-1931.
Oil on canvas, 67.5x89.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Donated in 1977 by G.Kostakis.
Two Roes. 1930.
Oil on canvas, 72x105 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Two Bathing Women. 1931.
Oil on canvas, 67.5x89.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Donated in 1977 by G.Kostakis.
Rendezvous. 1931. On the back side: "Bulls".
Oil on canvas, 65x79 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Landscape With Two Figures. 1930.
Oil on canvas, 68.7x84.6 cm.
The State Museum of Modern Art, Collection of G.Kostakis, Saloniki.
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Outskirts of Town. 1931.
Oil on canvas, 68x71.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Purchased in 1974 from G.Kostakis.
Altai. In the Mountains. 1931.
Oil on canvas, 59x69 cm.
Novosibirsk Picture Gallery. Purchased in 1987 from E.Drevin, Artist's granddaughter.
Landscape With a White House. 1931.
Oil on canvas, 74.5x92 cm.
Collection of V.S. and L.L.Semyonov.
Rose Bush. 1932.
Oil on canvas, 69x84 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
A Roe in Snow. 1931-1932.
Oil on canvas, 67x82 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
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Landscape. 1931.
Oil on canvas, 52.5x62.5 cm.
Tula Region Art Museum. Purchased in 1986 from E.Drevin, Artist's granddaughter.
Hunter. 1932.
Oil on canvas, 66x106 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Smithy. 1932.
Oil on canvas, 75x91 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Parachute Landing. 1932.
Oil on canvas, 89x107 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Parachute Landing (Blue Version). 1932.
Oil on canvas, 89x107 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg. Received in 1969 from A.Drevin, Artist's son.
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Wooden Barges. 1932.
Oil on canvas, 58x64.7 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg. Purchased in 1969 from A.Drevin, Artist's son.
A Wooden Barge. 1931.
Oil on canvas, 58x79 cm.
The State Museum of Modern Art, Collection of G.Kostakis, Saloniki.
A Wooden Barge (A Little Boat). 1931.
Oil on canvas, 68x71.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Purchased in 1978 from A.Drevin, Artist's son.
A Wooden Barge. 1931.
Oil on canvas, 68x81 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Self Portrait. Drawing. 1932.
Pencil on paper, 18.5x13.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1959 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
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Armenia. A Portrait of a Woman. 1933.
Oil on canvas, 69.1x61.9 cm.
Novosibirsk Picture Gallery. Purchased in 1987 from E.Drevin, Artist's granddaughter.
Landscape. Armenia. Village Nork. 1933.
Oil on canvas, 54.6x90 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Purchased in 1934 from the Artist.
Mountain Village. Riders. 1933.
Oil on canvas, 66x82 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Construction of Railroad Bridge in Erevan. 1933.
Oil on canvas, 98x118 cm.
The State Russian Museum, St.Petersburg.
In the Altai Mountains. 1933.
Oil on canvas, 55x86.5 cm.
Ulyanovsk Regional Museum of Arts. Purchased in 1988 from E.Drevin, Artist's granddaughter.
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Landscape. Road. Armenia. 1933.
Oil on canvas, 100x118.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Purchased in 1934 from the Artist.
Landscape. Road. Armenia. 1933. 
Oil on canvas, 100x118.5 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Purchased in 1934 from the Artist.
A Deer. 1933.
Oil on canvas, 67x82 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Purchased in 1978 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
A Girl With a Towel. 1934.
Oil on canvas, 78.5x60 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
A Woman With Leaflets (Red Version). 1933.
Pencil on paper, 74x90.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1986 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
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A Woman With Leaflets (Blue Version). 1933-34.
Oil on canvas, 74x90 cm.
The A.Drevin and N.Udaltzova Museum Collection, Moscow.
Landscape. Nork. 1934.
Oil on canvas, 76.5x109 cm.
Armenian National Gallery, Yerevan.
In the KOLKHOZ (Latvian Kommune). 1935-1936.
Pencil on paper, 19x28.1 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1959 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
In the KOLKHOZ (Latvian Kommune). 1935-1936.
Pencil on paper, 19x27 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1959 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
In the KOLKHOZ (Latvian Kommune). 1935-1936.
Pencil on paper, 19x27 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1959 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
In the KOLKHOZ (Latvian Kommune). 1935-1936.
Pencil on paper, 19x27.7 cm.
The State Museum of Arts, Riga. Purchased in 1959 from A.Drevin, Artists's son.
Village. Ascend. 1936.
Pencil on paper, 18.5x26.2 cm.
The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Donated in 1969 by A.Sidorov.
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Biography:
Rudolf Alexandr Davidovich Drevin was born in 1884 in Wenden, Switzerland. His father, David Dreving (Drevin) was a Latvian metalworker, his mother was German. Following the accelerated development of the Riga port at the end of the 1880s, and the need for qualified workers at the many new metal factories, the family moves to Riga in 1895.
Before 1985. With father David, mother Anne
and younger sister Bertha.
The 1905 revolutionary actions have made a change in Drevin's life, who had several dedicated revolutionaries among his friends. He was recruited for running errands, the origin of which was often unknown to him. The bloody reaction to the demonstrations in Riga have shaken Drevin severely, he lost most his friends in the slaughter. The young artist had to leave for a while to Smolensk gubernia.
Upon finishing nautical school in 1907 young Alexandr has studied at the Art School in Riga (1909-1913) under W.Purvit, who serves as school deriector, teaching the landscape class himself.
From 1912 was member and participated in exhibitions including Jack (Knave) of Diamonds (1915-1917), Communa of Latvian Painters in Moscow (1918-early 1220s), Moscow Painters (1924-1925), AKhRR [Assotiation of Artists of Revolutionary Russia] (1926), OMKh [Society of Moscov Artists] (1928-1932), "13" (1931), and International Bureau of Revolutionary Artists (1931-1935) .
In 1914 the World War I evacuates the government institutions, and Drevin moves to Moscow, among hundreds of Latvian refugees.
In 1917 the journal "Anarkhia" (anarchy) is born as the printed voice of the Moscow Federation of Anarchists. Drevin has joined this group.
In 1918 "Anarkhia" publishes a series of essays by K.Malevich, A.Rodchenko, N.Udaltzova. Drevin participates, for the first time, in an exhibition with Russian artists, and the journal praises the free composition of colorful mass in his work.
That same year he works several months as head of art section of the Komissariat for Latvian national affairs. Then he moves into the department of art at the IZO Narcompros [Fine Art Section of the peoples Commissariat for Education of the Russian Republic] . His main task becomes the creation of the Museum of Modern Art.
The artist has also become a member of the Association of Extreme Innovators (1918-1920), which included also Kuznetzov, Pevzner, Rosenfeld, Rozhdestvensky, Shternberg, Udaltzova and others. There was a lot of dispute among the members as to the desired direction. Drevin was among the organizating five.
From 1920 Drevin has taught in his own workshop and the painting faculty at the VKhUTEMAS/VKhUTEIN [Higher State Artiatic and Technical Workshops / Higher State Art Technical Institute] (1920s-1930s).
Also in 1920 he marries Nadezhda Udaltzova, a fellow artist. Their styles are very different, but nevertheless their creative position was united, and they complemented each other harmonically in both family life and as teachers. Together they take an active part in the prolonged discussion on the definition of construction and composition of a work of art, along with the group of their fellow members of a group of "objective analysis".
N.Udaltzova and A.Drevin
with son Andrei. Around 1925.
Life in 1921 Moscow is hard and hungry, but Drevin and Udaltzova find their artistic life exciting and hectic, their students painting fanatically; in August their son Andrei is born. Drevin is elected head of professional union of VKhUTEMAS main department.
In 1922 Drevin is made member of State Academy of Art Sciences.
In 1924 two a organizations was created, which was to play acritical role in the artists life: society "Prometeus" was created, whose goal was printing and promoting work of literature, science and art, both periodical and otherwise, mostly in Latvian, and generally perform cultural and educational work among the Latvian society.
In 1928 a joint exhibition of Drevin and Udaltzova was held. The Ural landscape series is exhibited, among other work. That same year the OMKh group is created, with Drevin as one of founding members. Around that time the couple go on creative vacation to Altai, by the river Irtysh (today East Kazakhstan), then again the next summer. Drevin's work is criticized upon return. His work is said to give too much attention to the Altaian landscape and life, and not enough thematic work.
In 1933 Drevin and Udaltzova go to Armenia. Their consequent is said to reflect only asingle spot in Armenia, around Nork; they do not look at Armenia to see its uniqueness, but look generally at Armenian nature; their color spectrum is not too rich... although they know how to use is to its best advantange in such a rich way, that many a young artist may learn from them.
During all these years Drevin produced landscapes, still lifes, nudes, genre- and non-objective paintings. He produced three cycles of works based on his travels (paintings and graphics) in the Urals (1926-1931), Altai (1929-1931), and in Armenia (1932-1934) but without some etnographic motifs. Drevin’s canvases are painting improvisations, the artist on principle did not make preparation drawings on canvas. The color and form are very generalized for greater expressiveness. Altai has especially impressed the artist by its colorful nature, large spaces. Its unusual power of light has changed his painting.
At the "Prometheus" artistic meetins, Drevin presented his work, discussed it. He spoke if his searching, his disilluzionment with the realistic, the "easy" way they were being pushed; of the other artists work and its impact on him. He spoke of leaving the old and searching for the new, of growing, making mistakes and correcting them, changing the method and style constantly as you grow. Of unity of artistic elements.
Drevin transformed any subject to lyrical meditative. In later 1930s he tried to adapt his paintings to realism, because of that his individuality disappeared, however his conformist pictures, like ‘A Girl with Towel’ (1937), at exhibition committee were met with applause, whic still failed to save the artist's life.
Photo from the trial of A.Drevin. 1938.
In June 1937 the head of "Prometheus", Yuly-Karl Danishevsky was arested. In July the announcement came from Sovnarkom of USSR eliminating the cultural educational society "Prometheus". Their works were ceized and given to the State to sell and use the money as they see fit.
In January 1938 Alexandr Drevin was arested. He was accused and found guilty of participation in contre-revolutionary organization existing within the society "Prometheus". He was senteced to the highest degree of punishment: death by shooting squad.
Alexandr Drevin was shot on February 26th 1938.
Reabilitated posthumously in October 1957. The military tribunal of Baltic military discrict decreed that they found no evidence of the crime.
The pictures of Drevin began to appear in exhibitions only from the late 1960s.