Background

Ismail Akhundov was born on 1907 in Mashtaga, Baku, Azerbaijan.

Education

Ismail Akhundov graduated from the Baku Art School in 1928, and right after his graduation he entered the Faculty of Publishing at Moscow Polygraph Institute. He graduated from the Institute in 1932.

Career

Akhundov's first steps in the successful professional activity started in 1927, when he teamed up with the artists such as G. Khaligov and R. Mustafayev and became organizers and participants of the first exhibition of AARR (Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia) in Baku. The graphic works of ink and watercolor displayed at the exhibition influenced the vocation and creative passion of the young artist. "Vacation of the pioneers", "Sheppard" and his other works were demonstrated at that exhibition.

At the turn of 1920’s and 1930’s, Akhundov productively worked in the magazine "Molla Nasreddin". The advanced graphical component of the previous works done by Akhundov already determined his future creative development as a book and magazine illustrator, master of various types of posters and printed propaganda materials.

Ismail Akhundov returned to Baku in 1932 to work as an artist at the "Azemashr" publishing house. In 1937 he was offered a job in Azerbaijan Drama Theater.

Already in the 1940’s, Ismail Akhundov started productive work in the field of political posters and satirical drawings.

In the postwar years, Akhundov was associated with the art of satirical drawing. During that time, the artist’s collaboration with the magazine "Kirpi" was particularly productive.

Besides the creative activity, Ismail Akhundov was socially active throughout his entire life. In 1932, at age 25, he was the head of the graphics department of Azerbaijan State Publishing House. From 1937 to 1940, he was the director of Azerbaijan State Art School, and from 1940, he was the director and chief designer of the National Museum of Literature named after Nizami.

Achievements

• Ismail Akhundov was best known for his contributions to the development of art and culture of Azerbaijan. His contributions were highly appreciated by the government and were evaluated with the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and Order of the Badge of Honor.
  
  Moreover, he was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist. He was awarded the State Prize of the USSR in 1944, and People’s Artist of Azerbaijan in 1960.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Landscape

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1927
  • Old Baku

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1928
  • Seller of Old Clothing

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1929
  • Woman reading a Newspaper

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1928
  • Pioneers’ Meeting

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

    1928
  • Shepherd

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1928
  • Horse Thresh

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1929
  • Water Bringing

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1928
  • Drawing

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

  • Bulls

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1928
  • Illustration to “Literature and Art” Newspaper

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1928
  • Battle Field Sketches

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Destruction of the Fascist’s Plane

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1950
  • Portal of the Shirvanshakhs’ Palace Mosque

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Atabey’s Tomb

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Court House. Shirvanshakhs’ Palace

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Poet M. P. Vagif’s Portrait

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

  • Illustration to M. R Akhundov “Grand Vizier of Lankaran’s Khanate” Play

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

    1960
  • Scene of the “Khirs Gand-Leader” Play

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

  • Book illustration

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Illustration to Nizami Ganjevi “Iskendername” Poem

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

  • Theatre Decoration

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1960
  • Theatre Decoration

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

    1960
  • Theatre Decoration

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

    1960
  • Theatre Decoration

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

    1960
  • Graphic Drawing

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art )

  • Landscape

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

Membership

Over the years, Akhundov was the head of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan.

• Union of Artists of Azerbaijan , Azerbaijan

Connections

colleague:

G. Khaligov

colleague:

R. Mustafayev

References

• "Servet" series of albums. The National Heritage project. The National Heritage project. As part of The National Heritage project implemented by Xalq Bank, Azerbaijan National Museum of Art under the head of Chingiz Farzaliyev prepared the "Servet" series of albums dedicated to the masters of Azerbaijani art.
  2013