Background

Najafgulu Ismayilov was born on March 15, 1923, in Baku, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, part of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (present-day Baku, Azerbaijan).

Education

In 1936, Najafgulu entered the Azerbaijan State Art School, graduating in 1940. The outbreak of World War II did not let him get higher education and from that time on, the artist started his independent career path.

Career

At the beginning of his career, Najafgulu mainly worked on portraits and historical topics. In 1946, he demonstrated the portrait of poetess Heyran Khanum during the Republic Exhibition. There, at the exhibition, this work was noticed by Samad Vurgun, and he asked Najafgulu to create a bigger version of that work for the Writers' Union. Later, Samad and Najafgulu became good friends. From that time on, Najafgulu painted the portraits of great people of Azerbaijani literary heritage. These works included the portraits of Nizami, Fuzûlî and Mirza Fatali Akhundov, ordered by Samad Vurgun. Later, Ismayilov dedicated a series of paintings to Samad.

Some time later, the artist began to create portraits of well-known politicians, warlords, poets and writers of Azerbaijan. Beginning in the 1950's, his works were demonstrated at the different exhibitions in Moscow and Azerbaijan. In general, the 1950's and 1960's are considered the brightest and the most fruitful period of the artist’s creative activity. Also, it was during that period of time, that Najafgulu made several working trips to foreign countries. During those years, he created such works, as "The Indian" (1950), "The portrait of an Arab playing pipe" (1951), "The Grand Opera Paris" (1961), "Southern side of Notre Dame" (1961) and others.

In 1952, Najafgulu began working as a chief artist at "Kirpi" satirical magazine, for which he also created humoristic and satirical illustrations. He held the post of a chief artist till 1977. The same year, in 1977, Najafgulu held a personal exhibition in Baku. During the period from 1977 till 1982, the painter created bas-reliefs of Fuzûlî, Mirza Alakbar Sabir, Uzeyir Hajibeyov and others.

During his career, the artist also achieved sufficient success in the world of theatre. He created stage decorations and costumes for the plays "The Dead" by Jalil Mammadguluzadeh and "The Engaged Girl" by Sabit Rahman. In addition, Ismayilov made stage decorations and costumes for "Othello" and "Hamlet" tragedies by W. Shakespeare.

Moreover, as the artist was interested in the culture of Azerbaijan, its customs, traditions and national dresses, he created a series of work, dedicated to the types of national dresses of Azerbaijan.

Achievements

• Najafgulu Ismayilov was a painter, mostly known for his landscapes, as well as depictions of Azerbaijani historical figures and prominent personalities. Also, he gained prominence for his humoristic and satirical illustrations.
  
  In 1963, the artist was awarded with the title of the Honored Art Worker of the Azerbaijan SSR.
  
  Ismayilov's works were represented at the exhibitions, dedicated to Soviet art, in such countries, as East Germany, Canada, Lebanon and others.

Works

More photos

• drawing

  • Old Baku types

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Old Baku types

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

• painting

  • A street in Nice

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Southern side of Notre Dame

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • The landscape

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Shah Ismayil Khatai

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Nizami and Khagani

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Nasimi

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Khanende

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Oil derricks

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Portrait of poet Gabil

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Portrait of dramatist Jalil Mammadguluzadeh

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Mother

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Old woman

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Portrait of educationist Abbasqulu ağa Bakıxanov

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Gubadli

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Portrait

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Portrait of poetess Natavan

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • In the İstisu mountains

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Portrait of a woman

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Portrait of Cheluskinskaya, Moscow

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Pirshagi

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • The portrait of poet

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

• sketch

  • A sitting man

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

  • Sewing Machine. Image of a girl

    (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art)

Connections

Friend:

Samad Vurgun

References

• "Servet" series of albums. 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