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The 95th Birthday Anniversary of Anatoly Gerasimovich Mosin

On August 18, it is the 95th birthday anniversary of the well-known Rostov artist, a graphic, the RSFSR Honored Artist, one of the illustrators of Sholokhov’s works, Anatoly Gerasimovich Mosin (1924-1979).

A.G. Mosin was born in 1924, in Tulkovo Village of the Krasnoyarsk District of the Yenisei Province (now Balakhta District of the Krasnoyarsk Territory). He graduated from the Rostov Art School. The entire creative life of the artist was associated with the Rostov Book Publishing House. Anatoly Gerasimovich was also an art editor in the “Don” journal.

The significant merit of Anatoly Gerasimovich is his creation of illustrations for the short story by Mikhail Sholokhov “The Shame Child” published as a separate book in 1965, in the Rostov Book Publishing House. This work of the artist was marked with a bronze medal of the All-Union Exhibition of Books of 1966, a medal of the exhibition of children’s books and book graphics of 1965, an honorary diploma at the All-Union Competition of Children’s Books of 1968. Mosin was known to be one of the best children’s illustrators.

Following the success of “The Shame Child” the artist received an order from the Rostov Book Publishing House to illustrate the novel “And Quiet Flows the Don” by M.A. Sholokhov. Anatoly Gerasimovich went to Sholokhov’s homeland to make a few sketches for the future illustrations. In his letter to Sholokhov, he proposed to send the writer his drawings as they were ready, but Mikhail Alexandrovich completely trusted Mosin in creating his works: “Dear Anatoly Gerasimovich, There is no need to show me your illustrations. Create them as you like, without any advice (even mine) and wishes. You are your own judge and critic. So it will be better! I wish you success! Your Sholokhov. 23.01.69”.

In the years 1969-1970, Mosin managed to create a series of illustrations for the novel “And Quiet Flows the Don”, which reflected the identity of the Don Cossacks. Those works were published in the “Literaturnaya Gazeta”, in the “Knizhnoye Obozreniye”. For his contribution in the field of book illustration, Anatoly Gerasimovich Mosin was awarded an honorary diploma of the Presidium of the RSFSR Supreme Council.

The stores of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov keep more than 140 works by A.G. Mosin, as well as the books “The Shame Child” and “Tales from the Don” bearing illustrations by the artist.

Yelena Ponomaryova