Konstantin Batynkov 1959

Batynkov is a plenipotentiary of the St. Petersburg group Mitki in Moscow. However, other than a two-week stubble, Herculean constitution, and a passion for feasts, there are not many other things of Mitki in Batynkov. He neither draws juicy maidens, nor does he dress himself in sailor’s white and blue striped undershirts. If he pays tribute to the fleet, it is only in the subjects of some pictures with ships, a spacious horizon, and pointed chips of boats. Aircraft are added to the ships, tanks follow them closely, and infantry is scattered like little glass beads in paintings, drawings, watercolors, and magazine illustrations. Conventionality on the verge of a cartoon, reality on the verge of a dream. In Batynkov’s aircraft and ship subjects the spirit of Labas and Williams is felt, while in offhand needle-shaped strokes there is Guardi’s inspired confidence. Batynkov the draftsman is rather representative of the old artistic formation, a reactionary, since he still considers the knack of painting to be the main value. There are few like him.

Anton Gorlenko