An exhibition titled "I Was Only a Week at War..." has opened at the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum.

      On April 17, 2026, at 15:20, the exhibition of Nizhny Novgorod artist Alexander Usvatov titled "I Was Only a Week at War..." (0+) opened at the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum | Art of the 20th Century, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of his birth. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      Alexander Usvatov was born in 1926 in Mariupol (formerly the city of Zhdanov) and spent his childhood and youth in Moscow. From an early age, he dreamed of becoming an artist, but fate had other plans: in 1943, he was drafted into the army from his second year at the Moscow Art School. Usvatov served in South Sakhalinsk, Magadan, Kyiv, and Gorky – he was a soldier, a cadet, and a radio officer. He was a Master of Sports of the USSR, champion of Ukraine, the USSR, and the Armed Forces of the USSR in radio sports.

      When Alexander Usvatov turned 50, he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel and enrolled in the Gorky Art School, which he graduated with honors in 1978, after which he fully immersed himself in creativity. Two years later, his paintings were shown at two all-Union exhibitions, and the work "A Soldier Came Back from the War," exhibited at the "Soviet Russia" exhibition, was acquired by the Ministry of Culture of the RSFSR. Since 1982, Usvatov was a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and regularly participated in exhibitions of various levels until 2014. Today, his works are kept in museum and private collections in Russia and abroad.

      "Usvatov's early works were dedicated to military themes, but later he focused on peaceful life: he painted landscapes, exquisite still lifes, and portraits of contemporaries. The artist was a strict adherent of the realistic school of painting — a student of the great Bakshiev. His goal was to accurately convey nature: to make the air transparent, the water liquid, and the trees 'rustling.' A distinctive feature of Usvatov's legacy is its preservation. His family carefully keeps the paintings, which made this exhibition possible. It features 40 works from different periods. In addition to painting, Usvatov wrote poetry and memoir prose — in the showcase, you can see drafts of his poetic experiments. The title of the exhibition — 'I Was Only a Week at War' — reflects the paradox of his fate: a week at the front, but half a life — in the service of the country's defense capability. At the same time, the artist's soul always lived in him and ultimately found successful realization," noted art historian, scientific secretary of the Nizhny Novgorod Art Museum, member of the Union of Artists of Russia, and project curator Irina Marsheva.

      Although most of the artist's life was connected with the army, the main theme of his work became the lyrical celebration of peaceful life: nature in delicate states, still lifes with richness of color and texture, portraits with deep insight into character. Of the military works, only one is presented at the exhibition – "Spring of '45" (1993, collection of the Nizhny Novgorod Art Museum). In it, the artist creates the image of the long-awaited Victory: girls enjoy peace and are full of youthful hopes. And yet, the viewer feels the poignant fragility and defenselessness of those who went through the war.

      Alexander Usvatov passed away on May 9, 2015. The exhibition dedicated to his 100th anniversary has been carefully assembled by his sons and grandsons in memory of the remarkable artist, poet, and man.

      "In honor of the centenary of our father and grandfather's birth, we are opening an exhibition with the support of our native art museum. Alexander Semyonovich dedicated his life to art: starting with children's studios in Moscow and the art school, he diligently studied the subtleties of painting — the combination of colors, the creation of volume and depth. His works convey the beauty of the central strip of Russia, and his mastery has noticeably grown over time: from modest early experiments to mature canvases. The artist's notes reveal his creative search — they may be of interest to fellow artists and teachers," said the artist's son Sergey Usvatov.

      The exhibition of Alexander Usvatov "I Was Only a Week at War..." will be held at the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum | Art of the 20th Century (Minin and Pozharsky Square, 2/2) until June 7. It is available via the "Pushkin Card."

      Let us remind you that the "Pushkin Card" program operates within the framework of the national project "Family," which started in Russia in 2025 at the initiative of President Vladimir Putin. Any Russian citizen aged 14 to 22 can obtain a virtual card in the "Gosuslugi.Culture" app. The card limit is 5000 rubles, which is renewed every year on January 1. The money can be spent on visiting museums, theaters, exhibitions, concerts, and cinemas across the country. The event schedule is available on the website: Culture.RF. In 2026, the operator bank servicing the "Pushkin Card" changed in all regions of Russia.

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