Fedot Vasilievich Sychkov

Private collection, Leipzig

Gifted to the mother of the present owner

Fedot Sychkov was one of the most popular Russian realist painters of his generation, and his compositions can be found in museums as well as private collections worldwide. Sychkov's oeuvre is characterised by strong thematic integrity. He dedicated his entire artistic output to the development of one theme - the portrayal of life in his native village Kochelaevo in Mordovia where he spent most of his life. In his art Sychkov glorifies the beauty of the region and celebrates his fellow villagers. The artist appreciated the optimism and zest for life which characterised them and these qualities are strongly conveyed in The Dance. "I like to portray simple people not only at work, but also to show their vivacious spirit, joyful moments and games they play" (Fedot Sychkov).