STAGES OF ALEXANDER BOZHINOV'S BIOGRAPHY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE GENRE POLITICAL CARICATURE

Abstract

The political caricature in Bulgaria has a relatively short history - started after the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1978. This art, however, quickly reached its maturity through the work of Alexander Bozhinov, whom another great Bulgarian caricaturist Iliya Beshkov identifies as the father of Bulgarian caricature. Alexander Bozhinov was born in 1878 in the Renaissance town of Svishtov, but grew up in Sofia, where he made his first steps in caricatureing. At the beginning of the 20th century (1904) the artist became part of the Balgaran newspaper for humor and satire. Here he published his caricatures, as well as short humor stories, etc. Soon the editorial office of Balgaran became a place for cultural communication of talented young people: artists, artists, writers, musicians. One of the first creative associations was born – the Balgaran cultural circle. This creative Cultural circle quickly achieves significant social influence, thanks its public positions. In Balgaran newspaper Bozhinov places a series of caricature images of the monarch Ferdinand, showing him through a variety of forms, including endowing him with animalistic and floral elements. As a result, Bozhinov was brought to court, and the newspaper soon ceased to exist. In 1909 Bozhinov is an artist in the National Theatre for a while. During this period he married Serbian woman Mara Selakovic, and his son Lyuben was born. In the second decade of the 20th century, Bozhinov collaborated with various newspapers with reports and military photographs. Immediately after the war, when the new government of Alexander Stamboliyskу was formed, Alexander Bozhinov was invited to participate in the new political cabinet, but he refused. The reason is that in the art he feels safe and useful. In 1924 the Bulgarian public celebrates 25 years of creative activity of Alexander Bozhinov. This creative Jubilee became an occasion for both critical assessments of his work, but also for historical reviews and critical studies on the art of caricature. In the next decade of the 30s and 40s of the 20th century, Bozhinov collaborated with the most authoritative Bulgarian newspapers, traveled abroad and participated in various exhibitions of caricatures and Paintings. In 1941 at the invitation of his fellow citizens from Svishtov, Bozhinov paints images on the walls of the newly discovered according to the will of the artist's uncle - Dimitar A.Tsenov - Academy in the city. In addition to caricatures, Bozhinov paints landscapes, still lifes, portraits. The artist also leaves a valuable legacy in art for children – he creates and illustrates books for the youngest and for students. After the changes in 1945 Alexander Bozhinov was tried by the People's Court, but a little later he was completely rehabilitated. The artist is one of the founders of the Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In the last years of his life, he became interested in the issues of peace and the building of a new life. He died in 1968. His work is indicative both of the evolution of the art of caricature and of periods of political controversy and upheaval.