The Origin and Development of the Seascape Genre in Turkmenistan

Among the thematically varied landscape paintings of Turkmen artists, the depiction of the Caspian Sea, which is part of the western territory of Turkmenistan, occupies a unique place, although the genre of seascapes is still little studied by art historians. The aim of the study was to fill this gap and identify major representatives of Turkmen art who left their mark on the development of this complex genre. The first reference to the marina is associated with the name of V.Ya. Pavlotsky (1925–2016), a native of Ashgabat and a graduate of the Odessa Art School. He made his initial steps in art as a landscape painter, often working in Krasnovodsk (now Turkmenbashi) located on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The marine theme found continuation not only in landscape, but also in genre and portrait paintings of the artist. Later Pavlotsky diversified the iconography he had once chosen, introducing the image of the Caspian Sea into the society of industrial problems of Soviet painting, so in the heritage of his mature years there are also industrial landscapes painted in harsh colours. Apparently, it was his fascination with the sea that helped V.Ya. Pavlotsky to find his own manner of artistic expression in his early years and to establish himself in his profession, and brought the necessary philosophical depth and panoramic vision to his other works in his later years

Depiction · Drama · Exoticism · Iconography · North sea · Painting · Portrait · Seascape · Byzantine Studies and History · Marine and environmental studies · Ottoman Empire History and Society