Niko Pirosmanashvili (born Niko Pirosmanashvili; May 5, 1862-1918) was a Georgian primitivist painter.
Pirosmani was born in the Georgian village of Mirzaani to a pleasant family in the Kakheti province. His family owned a small vineyard. He was later orphaned and put in the care of his two elder sisters. He moved with them to Tbilisi in 1870. In 1872 he worked as a servant for wealthy families and learned to read and write Russian and Georgian. In 1876 he returned to Mirzaani and worked as a herdsman.
Pirosmani gradually taught himself to paint. One of his specialties was painting directly into black oilcloth. In 1882 he opened a workshop in Tbilisi which was unsuccessful. In 1890 he worked as a railroad conductor, and in 1895 worked creating signboards. In 1893 he co-founded a dairy farm in Tbilisi which he left in 1901. Throughout his life Pirosmani, who was always poor, was willing to take up ordinary jobs including housepainting and whitewashing buildings. Although his paintings had some local popularity (about 200 survive) his relationship with professional artists remained uneasy; making a living was always more important to him than abstract aesthetics.
Kakhetian Epos - Alasan Valley Date 1895-1906
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
Dimensions 536 X 88 cm (211 X 34.6 in)
TTD
Painting ID:: 92527
Kakhetian_Epos_-_Alasan_Valley Date 1895-1906
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
Dimensions 536 X 88 cm (211 X 34.6 in)
TTD
Kakhetian Epos - Alasan Valley Date 1895-1906
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
Dimensions 536 X 88 cm (211 X 34.6 in)
TTD
Painting ID:: 92534
Kakhetian_Epos_-_Alasan_Valley Date 1895-1906
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
Dimensions 536 X 88 cm (211 X 34.6 in)
TTD
Kakhetian Epos - Alasan Valley Date 1895-1906
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
Dimensions 536 X 88 cm (211 X 34.6 in)
Painting ID:: 92535
Kakhetian_Epos_-_Alasan_Valley Date 1895-1906
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
Dimensions 536 X 88 cm (211 X 34.6 in)
A Nurse with a Baby Date 1905(1905)
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
XXXXXXX: XXXXXXX, XXXXX
Dimensions 78 X 109 cm (30.7 X 42.9 in)
TTD
Painting ID:: 92655
A_Nurse_with_a_Baby Date 1905(1905)
Medium English: Oil painting on oilcloth
עברית: ציור שמן על שעוונית
XXXXXXX: XXXXXXX, XXXXX
Dimensions 78 X 109 cm (30.7 X 42.9 in)
TTD
Niko_Pirosmanashvili (born Niko Pirosmanashvili; May 5, 1862-1918) was a Georgian primitivist painter.
Pirosmani was born in the Georgian village of Mirzaani to a pleasant family in the Kakheti province. His family owned a small vineyard. He was later orphaned and put in the care of his two elder sisters. He moved with them to Tbilisi in 1870. In 1872 he worked as a servant for wealthy families and learned to read and write Russian and Georgian. In 1876 he returned to Mirzaani and worked as a herdsman.
Pirosmani gradually taught himself to paint. One of his specialties was painting directly into black oilcloth. In 1882 he opened a workshop in Tbilisi which was unsuccessful. In 1890 he worked as a railroad conductor, and in 1895 worked creating signboards. In 1893 he co-founded a dairy farm in Tbilisi which he left in 1901. Throughout his life Pirosmani, who was always poor, was willing to take up ordinary jobs including housepainting and whitewashing buildings. Although his paintings had some local popularity (about 200 survive) his relationship with professional artists remained uneasy; making a living was always more important to him than abstract aesthetics.