Efanov Vasily Prokofyevich

Vasily Prokofyevich Efanov (1900–1978) was a Soviet painter, People's Artist of the USSR (1965), and full member of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1947). He studied at the D. N. Kardovsky studio in Moscow (1921–1926) and later taught at the V. I. Surikov Moscow State Art Institute and the V. I. Lenin Moscow Pedagogical Institute. From the mid-1930s, he focused primarily on portraiture and thematic compositions, creating several iconic works awarded the USSR State Prize, including "An Unforgettable Meeting" (1936–1937) and "At the Bedside of the Sick A. M. Gorky" (1940–1944). He was also active in agitation art and periodical illustration.