site.btaMarking 125 Years of Stefan Georgov: An Observer of Bulgaria's Changing Landscapes

An exhibition titled Stefan Georgov – A Sincere and Devoted Observer of His Time marks the 125th anniversary of the artist's birth and will run from November 27 to December 16, 2024 at the Anel Museum-Gallery, the organizers said here on Monday.

The exhibition showcases 90 pieces, including paintings and drawings. A catalogue in both Bulgarian and English is available, created as part of a project by the Ministry of Culture.

"Georgov made an important contribution to Bulgarian art with his diverse thematic approach. He considered himself one of the first artists to paint industrial landscapes in Bulgaria. His landscapes from the Pernik mines, produced between 1931 and 1948, capture scenes from open-pit mines and the lives of miners, infused with strong social energy. These works are crafted with a profound sensitivity to everyday life and mirror the important historical changes that took place after the coup d'état of September 9, 1944," said the exhibition's curator, Plamena Dimitrova-Racheva.

She observed that Georgov's series of drawings and paintings depicting the brigadier movements and new industrial developments in Pernik embody themes characteristic of socialist realism art.

They hold documentary value and convey the strong emotional impact of youthful enthusiasm during the construction of the Lovech-Troyan railway line, the Pernik-Voluyak railway line, and the new factories in Pernik. In other works, focusing on themes from brigadier life, the artist seeks harmony between labour and nature.

"In the cityscapes of Varna and Sofia, Georgov captures the distinct atmosphere of his era - buildings, streets, and parks that reflect the essence of a modernizing urban life," Dimitrova-Racheva wrote.

Stefan Georgov (1899–1987) was born in Varna (on the Black Sea). In 1916, he graduated from the Third Male Gymnasium in Sofia, where his drawing teacher was the artist Nikola Petrov. From 1917 to 1926, Georgov studied painting at the Sofia Academy of Arts. He exhibited his works in solo shows, group exhibitions, and art biennales.