Elisaveta Konsulova-Vazova
| Elisaveta Konsulova-Vazova | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
Elisaveta Konsulova 4 December 1881 Plovdiv, in the Principality of Bulgaria of the Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 29 August 1965 (aged 83) Sofia, People's Republic of Bulgaria |
| Nationality | Bulgarian |
| Other names | Elizabeth Konsulova-Vazova |
| Occupation | artist, art instructor |
| Years active | 1902-1956 |
Elisaveta Konsulova-Vazova (Bulgarian: Елисавета Консулова-Вазова, 4 December 1881-29 August, 1965) was one of the first women to become a professional artist in Bulgaria. She is also credited with being the first Bulgarian woman to paint a nude figure at the State School of Painting and the first woman to host a solo exhibition in Bulgaria. Having studied abroad, she became a noted art critic, publishing articles focused on Bulgarian culture and women's participation in the arts.
Elisaveta Konsulova was born on 4 December 1881 Plovdiv, in the Principality of Bulgaria of the Ottoman Empire to Anna (née Hadjiyenova) and Georgi Konsulov. Her father was a merchant from Levski had in his early life been exiled to İzmir for political activities the 1860s, and supported the liberation of Bulgaria. After the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria, he became a member of the Parliament. Her mother came from a well-to-do family of Tulcea. Konsulova was one of six children, including Nicholas, who would become governor of Gorna Dzhumaya; Stefan, who became a scientist; Elisaveta; Nedialka; Mara; and Karanfilais.
When Konsulova was ten years old, her family moved to Sofia, where her father became the director of a distillery. Encouraged by her father, in 1897, Konsulova entered the State School of Painting, studying with Jaroslav Věšín. There were only two girls in her classes and they were often ridiculed. While the men studied anatomy on live models, the women are allowed only to sketch muscles and bones from modestly draped, plaster sculptures. Konsulova rebelled against the discriminatory teaching methods and went to the headmaster, Ivan Murvichka to complain. She insisted that women be allowed to draw from nature, just as the men were. In a time when women artists were not seen as capable, or allowed to exhibit their art with men, she convinced Murvichka to allow women the same training as men. She became the first woman at the school to both sketch nude models and paint nude portraits. During her schooling, she was introduced to a young lieutenant Boris Vazov , younger brother of Ivan Vazov, who she would have a secret relationship with for eight years. Her parents disapproved of his lack of status and they had to exchange letters through a classmate. Konsulova graduated in 1902 and though she wanted to continue her studies abroad, she was unable to do so due to her father's death and the need for her to provide financial support for the family.
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