Vasiliy Koren One of the first Russian wood engravers Date of Birth: 01.01.1640 Country: Belarus

1. Vasily Koren: A Pioneer of Russian Woodcut Engraving
2. Early Life and Career
3. The Engraved Bible
4. Artistic Influences and Style
5. Religious Controversy
6. Authorship and Legacy
7. The "Curse of Koren"

Vasily Koren: A Pioneer of Russian Woodcut Engraving

Vasily Koren was a seminal figure in the history of Russian engraving, credited with creating the first engraved illustrated Bible in the country. His life and work have left an indelible mark on the development of Russian art.

Early Life and Career

Born in the Belarusian town of Dubrovno, Koren traveled to Central Russia in his youth, where he pursued a career as a woodcarver and engraver. By 1691, he had established himself in Moscow, the bustling capital of the Russian Empire.

The Engraved Bible

In 1692-1696, Koren embarked on his most ambitious project: printing the "Biblia v kartinakh" (Bible in Pictures), a Russian adaptation of the popular "Poor Man's Bible" prevalent in Western Europe. The work consisted of a series of hand-colored engravings depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis and the Apocalypse, each accompanied by explanatory captions.

Artistic Influences and Style

Koren's artistic style was a unique blend of influences, drawing from Catholic and Protestant illustrated Bibles, Russian iconography, and the emerging aesthetics of the popular print known as "lubok." While he incorporated elements from these diverse traditions, his work also exhibited a distinct originality.

Religious Controversy

Despite the innovative nature of Koren's Bible, it drew criticism for its non-canonical depictions of God. In an incident known as "The Wrath of God," the vast majority of the approximately 1,000 printed copies were confiscated and destroyed. Only a single partial copy (36 leaves) has survived, housed in the Russian National Library in Saint Petersburg.

Authorship and Legacy

Koren's personal signatures ("Rezal Vasiliy Koren, a znamenoval Grigoriy") on many of the surviving engravings confirm his authorship. While some anonymous woodcuts from the early 18th century have been attributed to him, it is likely that these were created by his pupils or followers.

The "Curse of Koren"

A persistent myth emerged that any attempt to reproduce Koren's Bible would result in financial ruin. This so-called "Curse of Koren" has been used to explain the failure of subsequent attempts to reprint the work.