A. KASTEEV’S ARTWORKS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE AKTOBE REGIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND LOCAL LORE

Abstract

The article examines the works of one of the founders of Kazakh fine art – Abilkhan Kasteev, preserved in the collection of the regional museum of history and local lore. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the systematization and promotion of the artist’s works from regional museum collections contributes to the study of Kazakh fine art. The aim of the research is an art-historical analysis of two paintings by A. Kasteev preserved in the collection of the Aktobe Regional Museum of History and Local Lore: the portrait “Makhambet Utemisov” (1951) and the portrait “M.I. Kalinin Presenting the Order of the Badge of Honor to N. Baiganin” (1961). Particular attention is paid to the compositional solution, artistic style, subject matter of the works, as well as their place within the museum exhibition. The paintings are considered not only as works of art but also as valuable sources of historical memory, reflecting the social, cultural, and political realities of their time. Special emphasis is placed on how elements of socialist realism in the artist’s works are harmoniously combined with the national worldview, distinctive color scheme, and narrative imagery.

The conclusions of the study demonstrate the particular significance of preserving and promoting А. Kasteev’s works in the collections of regional museums for the study of Kazakh art and history. The results obtained are of interest to art historians, historians, and museum professionals engaged in the study of Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and art.