Ponomarev Nikolai Afanasyevich

Nikolai Afanasyevich Ponomarev (1918–1997) was a Soviet graphic artist, People's Artist of the RSFSR (1968), and a full member of the USSR Academy of Arts (1973). He studied at the Surikov Moscow Art Institute (1940–1950) under A. A. Osmerkin and P. Ya. Pavlinov, and taught there from 1949 (becoming a professor in 1963). From 1971, he served as the First Secretary, and from 1973, as the Chairman of the Board of the USSR Union of Artists. His graphic work is characterized by a poetic perception of nature, subtle coloring, and decorative expressiveness. Notable works include the series "Donbass Miners" (USSR State Prize, 1951), "North Vietnam," "In India," and "Moscow Region Sails." His works are held in the Tretyakov Gallery and the State Russian Museum.