On the Contribution of Kharkiv Residents to the Artistic Open Letters of the Russian Empire

Art postcards (open letters) were very popular during the Imperial era. What mark did Kharkiv artists leave on this genre?

11800316_1613210222229649_1466543330459551382_n — Nikolai Nikolaevich Karazin (1842–1908)

The answer to this question isn’t really that complicated if you think about it.

1898—the first artistic postcards appeared in the Russian Empire.

Their founder was Nikolai Nikolaevich Karazin (1842–1908), the grandson of Vasily Nazarovich Karazin, a public figure and the founder of Kharkiv University. He was born in November 1842 in the village of Novo-Borisoglebskaya, Bogodukhovsky District, Kharkiv Governorate.
In addition to the first four postcards, Nikolai Nikolaevich, incidentally, also wrote a vast number of open letters.

11013508_1613215258895812_5117982597874813957_n — Artist Mikhail Alexandrovich Alisov (January 5, 1860 — June 15, 1933)

In 1910 (though perhaps even earlier), the outstanding artist Nikolai Alexandrovich Sergeev created a series of postcards that his contemporaries regarded as paintings and referred to as “charming little watercolors.”

Nikolai Alexandrovich was born in Kharkiv in 1865. He was educated at home and at the local classical gymnasium.

11027775_1613210315562973_6192566377600027594_n — Artist N. N. Karazin

In 1912, a series of postcards featuring works by Mikhail Alisov depicting various species of Crimean flora was published in Yalta.

Born in Kharkiv on January 5, 1860, Mikhail Alexandrovich was considered, even during his lifetime, the greatest pupil of the great Aivazovsky…

11224616_1613211048896233_9186446110565418591_n — Artist N. A. Sergeev

11701099_1613215268895811_8888738904319569172_n — Artist Mikhail Alexandrovich Alisov (1860–1933)

11752590_1613210545562950_2051228672255720958_n — Nikolai Alexandrovich Sergeev [1855–1919]

11781767_1613215275562477_939239625390654178_n — Artist Mikhail Alexandrovich Alisov (1860–1933)

11796368_1613215262229145_4047411913711609336_n — Artist Mikhail Alexandrovich Alisov (1860–1933)

11811405_1613210462229625_6198399233180008066_n — Artist N. N. Karazin

11817270_1613210795562925_4370964570832620295_n — Artist N. A. Sergeev

11825012_1613210748896263_2067376572622761246_n — Artist N.A. Sergeev

11828595_1613210388896299_2038978448499145032_n — Artist N. N. Karazin

A recording of a broadcast on Kharkiv Regional Television from September 28, 2015, in which Anton Bondarev, head of the “Charming Kharkiv” Foundation, spoke in more detail about the contribution of Kharkiv residents to the creation of the first art postcards: