Children at Play

Godunov Victor Smitrievich (24x28)

Godunov was born 1920 in Leningrad in an engineer's family. In 1939 he was mobilized to the Soviet Army. He was wounded during the war against Finland. It was a very unpopular war against this small country, but Godunov made many sketches during this period, which were used in his future paintings about the war. In 1947 he entered Leningrad Art Academy which he graduated from in 1952. In 1956 he was accepted as a teacher, where he worked until 1984. he liked to paint people, intelligence's and students. Authorities criticized him for this. To paint workers and farmers was a main preference in Soviet Art during this period of time. Students loved Godunov for his generosity, understanding and teaching abilities. He was well known in the Academy as a great colorist. Many of his paintings were sold to private collectors in Japan in the '60's His art can be found in major museums in Russia. Leningrad Art Museum has the biggest collection of his art. He was married, had 2 daughters. He died in 1992 in Leningrad. His painting "Two Young Girls" was exhibited in Tretiakov Art Gallery.