Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva
Anna Petrovna Ostroumova-Lebedeva was a Russian artist most notable for her watercolor painting. She was also one of the pioneers of the woodcut technique in Russia. The main topic of her graphic works, both woodcuts and watercolors, were cityscapes of Saint Petersburg. She was also interested in European cityscapes, resulting from her travels in Europe. In 1905, she married the chemist Sergei Vasilievich Lebedev, whom she depicted here. Sergei was a revolutionist; he was the founder of an industrial method for producing synthetic rubber. His method became the base for the Soviet industry of synthetic rubber. The Soviets lacked reliable access to natural rubber, making the manufacture of synthetic rubber important. The first three synthetic rubber plants were launched in 1932 and 1933. For the production they used grain or potato ethanol as a feedstock, which caused a number of jokes about the Russian method of making tires from potatoes.
By 1940, the Soviet Union had the largest synthetic rubber industry in the world, producing more than 50,000 tons per year.
We present today's work thanks to the State Russian Museum.
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P.P.S. Do you know the story of another famous Russian female painter? Click here to see the works of Zinaida Serebriakova. Stunning, aren't they?