Boris Vasilievich Smirnov

Russian, 1881-1954

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov was a Russian artist who in 1904 traveled by prisoner transport from western Russia across Siberia. Along the way he created a series of drawings and watercolors of the people and places he encountered. Best known as a portraitist, Smirnov focused on the faces of the men and women he met, who included exiles, prisoners, settlers from Ukraine and western Russia, local military and civilian officials, peasants and merchants. His works from this period also include a handful of drawings of houses and landscapes. The sketches were made in the Ural Mountains, Irkutsk, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, and in villages along the route. The details of Smirnov's journey are sketchy. Some accounts say that he traveled along the Great Siberian Road as a volunteer on the way to the front in the Russo-Japanese War. Other accounts say that he was an exile, possibly sent to Siberia for refusing to be conscripted into the army. The Great Siberian Road, depicted in several of Smirnov's drawings, was the route from Moscow to China via Siberia.

Show 30 50 70

Street in Krasnoyarsk.

Street in Krasnoyarsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Moonlit Night in a Village near Irkutsk.

Moonlit Night in a Village near Irkutsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Moonlit Night near Irkutsk at a Resettlement Point.

Moonlit Night near Irkutsk at a Resettlement Point. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Moonlit Night near Irkutsk.

Moonlit Night near Irkutsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Morning Daybreak in the Wilds of Krasnoyarsk Taiga.

Morning Daybreak in the Wilds of Krasnoyarsk Taiga. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

On the Banks of the Irtysh River near Omsk.

On the Banks of the Irtysh River near Omsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Shed in a Village near the Ural Mountains.

Shed in a Village near the Ural Mountains. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Siberian Cadet Corps in Omsk as Viewed from the Irtysh River.

Siberian Cadet Corps in Omsk as Viewed from the Irtysh River. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Siberian Expanse. In the Environs of Krasnoyarsk.

Siberian Expanse. In the Environs of Krasnoyarsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Siberian Road in Winter. A String of Carts Going from ‘Rasseia’ to the Krasnoyarsk Region.

Siberian Road in Winter. A String of Carts Going from ‘Rasseia’ to the Krasnoyarsk Region. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Spruce Taiga near Irkutsk.

Spruce Taiga near Irkutsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

A Merchant Who Sold Beautiful Merchandise. Old Believer.

A Merchant Who Sold Beautiful Merchandise. Old Believer. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Taiga at Night.

Taiga at Night. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Taiga in the Krasnoyarsk Region.

Taiga in the Krasnoyarsk Region. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Taiga of the Ural Mountains near Zlatoust.

Taiga of the Ural Mountains near Zlatoust. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Thawed Patches in the Taiga near Krasnoyarsk. Early Spring.

Thawed Patches in the Taiga near Krasnoyarsk. Early Spring. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

The Great Road in the Baikal Mountains.

The Great Road in the Baikal Mountains. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

The Great Siberian Road through the Ural Mountains.

The Great Siberian Road through the Ural Mountains. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

The Willow Began to Bloom in the Taiga.

The Willow Began to Bloom in the Taiga. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Twilight on the Taiga near Krasnoyarsk.

Twilight on the Taiga near Krasnoyarsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Ural Mountains. Taiga in the Zlatoust Region.

Ural Mountains. Taiga in the Zlatoust Region. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

A Snowy Easter in Irkutsk. An Easter Meal.

A Snowy Easter in Irkutsk. An Easter Meal. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

In a Hut on the Outskirts of Irkutsk.

In a Hut on the Outskirts of Irkutsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

A Fashion-Plate from Irkutsk. Posing Was the Wife of a Justiciary Who Hosted a Group of Lovers of Drawing.

A Fashion-Plate from Irkutsk. Posing Was the Wife of a Justiciary Who Hosted a Group of Lovers of Drawing. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Children of Migrants on the Road.

Children of Migrants on the Road. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Christmas Tree in the House of Wealthy Residents of Irkutsk.

Christmas Tree in the House of Wealthy Residents of Irkutsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Female Migrant from Arkhangelsk Province to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia. Old Believer.

Female Migrant from Arkhangelsk Province to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia. Old Believer. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Following the Husband to Hard Labor. Irkutsk.

Following the Husband to Hard Labor. Irkutsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Going for a Visit. Krasnoyarsk.

Going for a Visit. Krasnoyarsk. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Pupil at the Irkutsk City School.

Pupil at the Irkutsk City School. (1904)

Boris Vasilievich Smirnov (Russian, 1881-1954)

Artvee.com 2024 All Rights Reserved