Gabashvili Giorgi

Giorgi Gabashvili (Gigo) [9 (21) November 1862, Tbilisi – 28 October 1936, Tsikhisdziri, Kobuleti District, buried in Tbilisi] was a painter and People's Artist of Georgia (1929). One of the founders and the first professors of the Tbilisi Academy of Arts (since 1922) and one of the founders of modern Georgian realistic painting. He studied in Tbilisi at the private art school of K. Kepen (1882–83) and collaborated with F. Rubo. He also studied at the St. Petersburg (1886–88) and Munich (1894–97) Art Academies. In 1894, he traveled to Central Asia, from where he brought back numerous paintings and studies. He visited Italy and Greece in 1898. Gabashvili emerged on the art scene in 1888; in 1891, he held a personal exhibition in Tbilisi (it was the first solo exhibition by a Georgian artist). In 1897, he founded an art studio, and from 1900, he taught at the "Caucasian Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts" drawing school (director from 1901).

His art was significantly influenced by the progressive ideas of the Georgian intellectuals of the 1860s, and by Russian painting of the second half of the 19th century. Gabashvili worked in oil and watercolor and also created drawings with a pen. His works cover a wide range of themes: he created a series of portraits of prominent figures of Georgian culture (I. Chavchavadze, 1907–08; A. Tsereteli, 1913; G. Orbeliani, 1913; self-portrait, 1932); typified portraits of aristocratic figures ("Unknown Georgian Nobleman," "Three Generals," 1910); portraits of people from various social classes and regions (Khevsureti series: "Sleeping Khevsur," 1898; "Drunken Khevsurs," 1899). Gabashvili was a pioneer of Georgian battle and genre painting ("Alaverdoba," 1899; "At Dawn by the Church in the Cemetery," 1904; "In the Garden," 1891; "Highlanders on Guard," "Defending Arkhoti," 1898–1901), landscapes ("After the Rain," 1891), and still lifes. His Central Asian cycle is also noteworthy ("Market in Samarkand," 1894; "Divanbeg's Pool in Bukhara," 1895).

Gabashvili was the first to establish a national theme inspired by the contemporary life of Georgians. His realistic art occupies a prominent place in Georgia's cultural heritage.

Literature: ამირანაშვილი შ., ქართული ხელოვნების ისტორია, თბ., 1971; Беридзе В. В., Езерская Н. А., Искусство Советской Грузии. 1921–1970, М., 1975.

V. Beridze