The Nuance Sofia-based Gallery has unveiled an exhibition of one of the most talented and cosmopolitan in his spirit Bulgarian artists – Atanas Tasev. This is barely his third exposition in this country. The first one took place back in the distant 1920 when he got into the Academy of Art in the capital. However, the event also caused his expel, as the regulation banned students from displaying their works. Thus Tasev went to study in Prague, where he earned a scholarship for foreign students. He graduated from their Academy of Art and stayed in the Czech capital city for a while as a freelancer.

The achievements of the master in the portrait genre are remarkable. While staying in the Czechoslovakia (presently the Czech Republic) he drew prominent people, mostly related to European culture – Tsar Boris III, PM Andrey Lyapchev and his wife, Prof. Alexander Balabanov and wife, writer Elin Pelin etc. Major British politician Sir Edward Boyle, a great friend of Bulgaria, diplomats, culture figures – those all ordered their portraits to Atanas Tasev.

One of the artist’s heirs – Krasimir tells us that he used to work in other European countries and also in the USA. In his letter from 1974 he wrote on the portraying of great Czech artist Alfons Mucha:

“He was the best model, he would never move an inch and kept straight face all the time,” the artist said. “The light was good and I finished the work in three sessions, two hours each. When he saw it, Mucha was surprised. He said: “I’ve been portrayed by great artists, but none of them did it so good!” When the portrait was hanged on the wall the dog never stopped jumping and trying to reach it. His master looked so alive… The portrait became famous, but Mucha was not that honest – he never paid anything. At least he could have exchanged one of his pictures… At the same time a senator saw my work and thus several orders followed…”

In London the artist created the portrait of Czech Executive Minister Masaryk, son of the president. In Warsaw he drew the French ambassador.

In 1947 the artist went to Stockholm where he found fans and career development. Soon after that he stepped on towards America where he would spend the next 15 years. A curious fact: he had an exhibition at the prestigious Corcoran Gallery in Washington, but without selling his works – and the US audience was really impressed!

“In fact he drew over 200 ordered portraits in the USA. In his words a single work cost USD 1,000 – 1,500 or even 2,000 back then and that was a lot of money. He also created portraits of the Rockefellers, but we don’t even have photos of those preserved…”

Then the artist opted for Malaga, Spain. Next he returned to Bulgaria. Atanas Tasev passed away in 1991.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev