Background
Dobrian was born in Rod, Sibiu, Romania, on September 2, 1912.
Dobrian was born in Rod, Sibiu, Romania, on September 2, 1912.
Vasile Dobrian graduated from the Bucharest National University of Arts in 1934.
Together with Aurel Marculescu, Dobrian became the founder of the Graphic Group in 1939-1947. In 1949-1956 he was professor and director of the Institute of Fine Arts in Iasi. His artistic work includes graphics, painting, drawing, collage, installation, and photography.
From the 1930s he often depicted social themes in his works, sometimes using influences from movements such as constructivism or cubism, he moved on towards a "lyrical hard-edged" style with vaguely figurative allusions, the geometric constructions often using the alphabet as a starting point.
His works were presented in numerous personal exhibitions held in Bucharest between 1935 and 1977; Baia Mare, 1962; Timisoara, 1963; Bacau, 1964; Cluj-Napoca, Râmnicu Sarat, Galati, Ploiesti, Braila, 1965-1967. Besides, his works were presented during international exhibitions organized at Lugano in 1954, Venice Biennale from 1960 and 1962, Ljubljana in 1961 and 1965, Sao Paulo Biennale in 1963, Berlin, 1967, Florence in 1968 and 1970, Pescia, 1968, Warsaw, 1970. In the course of time, Vasile Dobrian exhibited with such artists as Alexandru Ciucurencu, Horia Damian, Eugen Dragutescu, Ion Ţuculescu, George Tomaziu, Nicolae Brana, Aurel Mărculescu etc.
Known for his connections with the Romanian avant-garde, he was also a poet, although his volumes of poetry have not gathered critical acclaim. Nevertheless, the artist has edited several graphic albums, including Domino (1936), The Death Cycle (1942), The Road to a Life (1946), at the same time being the author of some poetry volumes, the most important being the volume A certain season (1977). He also collaborated with the magazine Litoral, which was devoted to poetry of the 1939-1943. Later he worked with the avant-garde magazine One, The Free Word magazine, Site magazine, etc.
Vasile Dobrian was both a distinguished painter and writer, who gained the reputation as one of the country's first and most important 20th century engravers. A frequent collaborator of the most important post-war newspapers and magazines, he has published 7 volumes of lyrics. Besides, he was widely known as one of the founders of the groups Grupul Grafic and MCMXLII.
He was a recipient of a number of awards, such as GD Palade Award in 1935, The 1943 and 1946 Arts Ministry Awards, the State Committee for Culture and Art Award in 1971, and also Honorary Medal from the Tommaso Campanella Academy in Rome. Moreover, he was granted the title of Emeritus Artist of the Romanian People's Republic (1964) "for outstanding merits in his work in the field of theater, music, the plastic arts and cinema."
