Leonid Beleaev – 100 years since the fine artist’s birth

Abstract: Leonid Beleaev’s (1921-1974) creation is an important page in the history of fine arts of the Republic of Moldova. Participant in the Second World War, after demobilization from the Soviet army, he began his studies at the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture „I. E. Repin” of the Academy of Arts of the USSR, in Leningrad, in 1947. After graduating from the Faculty of Graphics, he worked in the field of book and easel graphics in publishing houses in Moscow and Leningrad. In 1959 Leonid Beleaev came to Moldova, where he was registered as a member of the Union of Fine Artists of the USSR and dedicated himself to the books illustrating, realizing it at a high artistic level. Leonid Beleaev also manifested himself as a talented author of posters and Ex-libris. Art critics Kir Rodnin and Dmitry Golțov noted Leonid Beleaev’s talent in the field of book graphics, easel and monumental painting. The most successful easel compositions, industrial and lyrical landscapes, book illustrations signed by the fine artist Leonid Beleaev are based on a deep knowledge of graphic specificity, on the indissoluble connection with the traditions of universal classical and the Russian fine art schools. Keywords: graphics, book, illustration, art, lyrical, drawing, anniversary.