Niko Pirosmani

Niko Pirosmani

Niko Pirosmani (właśc. Niko Pirosmanaszwili; gruz. ნიკო ფიროსმანაშვილი; ur. 5 maja 1862 w Mirzaani, zm. 9 kwietnia 1918 w Tbilisi) was a Georgian self-taught painter and one of the most celebrated representatives of naïve (primitive) art. Although he is now regarded as one of Georgia's greatest artists, recognition came only after his death, following a lifetime marked by poverty and hardship.

Born into a family of peasant farmers in the Kakheti region, Pirosmani lost his parents at an early age. In 1872, he entered the service of a wealthy family in Tiflis (now Tbilisi), where he learned to read and write in both Georgian and Russian. Without any formal artistic education, he developed his own distinctive painting style through observation and practice, eventually becoming a self-taught artist.

During his early adult life, Pirosmani worked in various occupations to support himself. Around 1890, he was employed as a railway conductor, and in 1893 he attempted to run a dairy business with a partner. After the business failed, he became homeless and survived by painting shop signs, advertisements, and decorative panels for merchants, tavern owners, and restaurants. Often unable to pay for food or lodging, he accepted meals or shelter in exchange for his paintings.