Today is the 141st birthday of Grigoriy Choros-Gurkin (1870-1937), a famous Siberian painter, a student of Ivan Shishkin.
From 1921 to 1952, Choros-Gurkin lived and worked in Tuva. Today his works, including the ones made in Tuva, hang in museums of Siberia, the State Russian Museum,(Sankt-Peterburg), in France and in Mongolia.
In 1937, as a supposed organizer of uprising activities (in favor of Japan), he was sentenced to death by shooting. Grigoriy Choros-Gurkin combined the traditions of realistic painting of the 19th century with symbolistic influences. By crating epic paintings permeated by ancient mythological associations of his country, he became a powerful influence on the local culture. During the years 1917-1919, Choros-Gurkin was the head of the local Duma, which attempted to initiate self-government and to secure national equality for Altaians.
