Jazep Drazdovic - Bear Musicians Serving Tray

Artist: Jazep Drazdovič. "Music." Malyavanka painted wall carpet. 1949. Features two bear musicians, one playing a violin or fiddle, the other a horn or trumpet, while a fox and rabbit dance together and an owl flies overhead. Jazep Drazdovič (also Yazep Drozdovich) was a multi-talented Belarusian painter and sculptor in the first half of the 20th century who also during his lifetime was a folklorist, archaeologist, ethnographer, writer, teacher, and more. He was also known for creating his own cosmogonical theory, and incorporated alien cities and landscapes into some of his works. While he was regarded by some as the Leonardo DaVinci of Belarus, Drazdovic was misunderstood by many, and often toiled as a lonely artist. In his later career, he wandered the countryside for long stretches of time visiting peasant villages, painting, and doing odd jobs. He painted many wall carpets, which were traditionally hung in homes as a kind of amulet, and developed quite a reputation for these works of art. He died on his travels in 1954. A monument was erected in his honor in Punki, his birthplace in Belarus.