THE WORD OF AN ARTIST: IMAGE CONSTRUCTIONS IN A. SOFRONOVA’S AUTOBIOGRAPHIC PROSE

The paper is based on the most complete so far publication of texts by the outstanding Russian artist A. F. Sofronova (1892–1966): Sofronova, A. F. The notes of an independent one. Diaries, letters, memoirs. Moscow, Russkii Avangard, 2001. An analysis of diaries, autobiographic notes, and lyric poems by Sofronova shows how important for her was connection between art and words.
Some formulations, important for Sofronova, suggest what lexical units obtain additional meaning in her texts, and hence are of especial interest for our analysis. For instance, her theoretical statement “Dark and light spots must strengthen each other” allows us to single out “spot” as an important lexical unit and analyze its meaning in her texts. The meanings of the words “color” and “tone” as well as of terms for colors, are considered in a similar way. 
Sofronova contrasts a study, as a means to fi x some elements of the reality, with a picture as a combination of elements — colors, tones, lines, spots, etc. — intentionally organized by the artist, reaching her own understanding of the art’s objectives; and this allows us to deeper understand the form and meaning of the master’s pictures and drawings.