23/01/2020
Georgian art tour. Recently I discover Niko Pirosmani-Georgian Van Goh. Who he was? His life surrounded with legends. Nobody knows exact facts of his life- facts like normal person would have( no when he was born, no where he was buried). As usual in this world he die in poverty and now his paintings sold for millions $.
His life passed through end of 19th and beginning 20th centuries. The main plot of his paintings was the Georgian Feast. No wonder that in difficult hungry time through 1st world war people wants to comfort them self with the feast of food paintings.He painted so much signs for shops and wineries, that all Tbilisi become like his art gallery. Because of shortage art supply , most of his art in black and white on very cheep oil cloth, but this made images more expressive!
Very amazing his love story !!!!
French actress Margarita was performing in Tbilisi. Pirosmani adored her. But who he was .... compared to her?
By this time he tried succeed in business by running dairy shop. The business could go well, but Niko was not of this world. He sold his business, and..... When in the morning Margarita looked to the window of her hotel room, she saw so many flower carts coming from all around the city. They where bringing and bringing rouses until all square was full. Their is popular song in many countries: "Million scarlet roses" But not many people knows that it is a true story: crazy love of Niko Pirosmany to actress Margarita from Paris. Next day Margareta left. Maybe she was afraid of the powerful feelings of Pirosmani. He even never talk to her. Now he was poor again and fully give himself to the art.
In the 1950's, after his death, the recognition came to him. His art was exposed at Louvre, Paris. People noticed modest, elegant old lady who came every day to the portrait of actress Margareta. Later people guess that it was Margareta herself. Now she was unknown, forgotten old lady. But he was famous, and now she came to him to the Louvere , even after his death. Pirosmani's paintings take us to the old Tbilisi-Magical impression!!! He is considered the ancestor of new national Georgian art; great figure in avant-garde beginning XX century; primitivist.
If you would like explore more about Georgian art, follow the Pirosmani's path, we can do it together on the tour, second part of August 2020. PM or email me if you are interested to know more about this tour.