G.I. Choros-Gurkin’s Archaeological and Ethnographic Drawings at the National Museum of the Altai Republic

G.I. Choros-Gurkin’s Archaeological and Ethnographic Drawings at the National Museum of the Altai Republic

R.M. Erkinova and E.P. Matochkin.

The present article describes sketches made by G.I. Choros-Gurkin during his travels through Gorny Altai, Mongolia, Khakassia, and Tuva. G.I. Choros-Gurkin, fi rst professional artist among the indigenous peoples of Siberia, student to I.I. Shishkin, writer, educator, and public fi gure, has left over 2000 graphic works which constitute an artist’s encyclopedia of the Altai people. Choros-Gurkin’s archaeological sketches show burial mounds, stone statues, and petroglyphs, many of which have since been lost. The ethnographic drawings are documentary and represent the external appearance, way of life and beliefs of his native people.