July 29 marks the 204th anniversary of Ivan Aivazovsky, a remarkable artist of Ukrainian and Armenian origin who is considered one of the greatest masters of marine art.
Aivazovsky created more than 6,000 different works, making him one of the most prolific artists of his time. His paintings adorn museums and private collections around the world. He held numerous solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States.
The artist was born, lived and worked mostly in Crimea. As part of the cultural appropriation tradition established in the times of the Russian Empire which Moscow continues to promote today, Aivazovsky is portrayed as a Russian artist. This tactic is just one of the examples of how the Kremlin implements its “soft power”, aimed at legitimizing the occupation of Crimea, among other things.