Pro Georgia Journal of Kartvelological Studies

Home , Kote Marjanishvili, Lado Gudiashvili, Niko Pirosmani, Paolo Iashvili, Tbilisi, Titsian Tabidze

3 PRO GEORGIA JOURNAL OF KARTVELOLOGICAL STUDIES

No 28 — 2018 (Published since 1991)

CENTRE FOR EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES FACULTY OF ORIENTAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW WARSAW 2018 2

E DITOR- IN-CHIEF David KOLBAIA

S ECRETARY Sophia J VANIA

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Jan MALICKI, Wojciech MATERSKI, Henryk PAPROCKI

I NTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Zaza ALEKSIDZE, Professor, Korneli Kekelidze Georgian National Center of Manuscripts, Tbilisi Alejandro B ARRAL–IGLESIAS, Professor Emeritus, Cathedral Museum Santiago de Compostela Jan BRAUN (†), Professor Emeritus, University of Warsaw Andrzej F URIER, Professor, Universitet of Szczecin Andrew GVAZAVA, Metropolitan of Gori and Ateni Gocha JAPARIDZE, Professor, Tbilisi State University Stanis³aw L ISZEWSKI, Professor Emeritus, University of Łódź Mariam LORTKIPANIDZE (†), Professor Emerita, Tbilisi State University Guram L ORTKIPANIDZE, Professor Emeritus, Tbilisi State University Marek M¥DZIK (†), Professor, Maria Curie-Sk³odowska University, Lublin Tamila MGALOBLISHVILI (†), Professor, Korneli Kekelidze Georgian National Center of Manuscripts, Tbilisi Lech M R Ó Z, Professor, University of Warsaw Bernard OUTTIER, Professor Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Paris Andrzej P ISOWICZ, Professor, Jagiellonian University, Cracow Annegret P LONTKE-LUENING, Professor, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena Tadeusz Ś WIĘ TOCHOWSKI (†), Professor, Monmouth University, New Jersey Sophia V ASHALOMIDZE, Professor, Martin-Luther-Univerity, Halle-Wittenberg Andrzej W O Ź NIAK (†), Professor, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 4

Cover: St. Mamai, Gelati Tondo (silver, gilt silver), 11th century

EDITORIAL ADDRESS

Centre for East European Studies University of Warsaw Pa³ac Potockich, Krakowskie Przedmieœcie 26/28 PL 00-927 Warsaw tel. 48 22 55 22 555, fax 48 22 55 22 222 e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

PRINTING: Duo Studio

ISSN 1230-1604

Edition of 500 Copies The printed version is the basic version of the journal CONTENTS 5

I. ARTICLES AND STUDIES

Mokcewaj Kartlisaj (Nawrócenie Kartlii). Z języka starogruziń- skiego przełożył i komentarzem opatrzył DAVID KOLBAIA ...... 8

TEA SHELIA, Dmanisi – the Homeland of the most Ancient Eurasians ...... 89

RADOSŁAW KARASIEWICZ-SZCZYPIORSKI, with a contribution by SULKHAN MAMULADZE, Before there were the thermae. A Few Words on the Remains of the Earliest Buildings in the Apsaros Fort (Gonio, Georgia) ...... 99

OSKAR KUBRAK, with a contribution by LASHA ASLANISHVILI, Throwing Artillery from Apsaros Roman Fortress. Analyze and Interpre- tation of Stone Projectiles for Ballista ...... 109

LANA BURKADZE, The samples of Roman and Byzantine mosaics discovered in Georgia ...... 129

JACEK HAMBURG, ROLAND ISAKADZE, Preliminary Report of 2017 Polish-Georgian Archaeological Expedition at Gabashvili Hill and its surrounding area (Kutaisi, Western Georgia) ...... 137

DAREJAN GOJASHVILI, NINO KAVTARIA, Peculiarities of the Tao-Klarjeti Artistic School of the miniatures from Tsaishi Gospel ...... 157

GIORGI SOSIASHVILI, Territories owned in Georgia by the Mount Athos (Vatopedi) Monastery (In the Russian occupied territories, in Liakhvi Gorge) ...... 175

KONSTANTINE PERADZE, Georgian ruler of the Ottoman Algiers Hassan ibn Yusuf Ahiskali ...... 189

II. MATERIALS, DOCUMENTS, MEMOIRES

BESIK KHURTSILAVA, Georgian-Arabic Chronicle of a Jerusalemite Family ...... 205

MAKA KHUTSISHVILI, A repressed polish painter in soviet Georgia during Stalin’s terror Kirill Zdanevich ...... 219

IVANE MTCHEDELADZE, Forms of Georgian Literature reception in 20th century. Ukrainian Literary Discourse in Emigration ...... 227

VARVARA KRASUTSKAYA, Lost tribe of Israel: the Jews of Dagestan ...... 235 6 CONTENTS

III. REVIEWS AND COMMENTAIRES

NATIA JALABADZE, Ethno-political aspects of the Georgian-Ossetian relations in Kazbegi region ...... 257

LAVRENTI JANIASHVILI, Ossetians and Georgians in Kazbegi region historial and cultural issues ...... 267

MARIAM CHKHARTISHVILI, saqarTvelo III-V saukuneebSi. xosrovanTa samefo saxlis istoria (sakartvelo III-V sau- kuneebshi. khosrovanta samepo sakhlis istoria), Nekresi Publi- shing, Tbilisi 2018, pp. 303; ISBN 978-9941-457-96-8 ...... 281

IV. CHRONICLE

ANDRZEJ WOŹNIAK, Ze wspomnień o Profesorze Tejmurazie Cziko- wanim (1924-2007) ...... 283

IN MEMORIAM, Andrzej Woźniak (1939-2018), Marek Mądzik (1946-2016) ...... 294 Pro Georgia, 2018, t. 28, s. 199-226 219

A REPRESSED POLISH PAINTER IN SOVIET GEORGIA DURING STALIN’S TERROR KIRILL ZDANEVICH

by Maka Khutsishvili University of Warsaw/Tbilisi

Introduction This article presents a case of Soviet repressions on the example of a Polish origin painter living in soviet Georgia in the late 1940s. It is well known, that “Great Purge” during the years 1937-1938 was a peak of Stalin’s terror, but throughout the history of the Soviet Union there had always been political repressions against the “anti- Soviet elements” and “enemies of the people”. There are some works about Kirill Zdanevich in Georgian historiog- raphy, but from the perspective of his activities, details are not known about his repressions. The article is based on the primary sources, aim- ing to ﬁ ll this gap in this regard and enter the academic circulation for the ﬁ rst time ever. Kirill Zdanevich was repressed at the end of the 1940s charged with spying just for the reason, that he befriended a Scottish journalist visit- ing Moscow. Kirill Zdanevich is known to the Georgian society for his artistic activity, but there is little known about the painter’s biography. I tried to reconstruct details of his life through the use of oral history narra- tives alongside periodical sources. Karaman Kutateladze1, the painter’s grandson told me about the artist.

Early life and activity Throughout the 19th century several national uprising occurred in Poland, which were led by the Polish nobility (Shlakhta). Their goal was regaining independence and liberate from Russia’s domination.

1 Karaman Kutateladze – grandson of Kirill Zdanevich, lives in Tbilisi at the age of 59. 220 MAKA KHUTSISHVILI

All uprising had ended in failure of the national forces. The Metropolis used loyal methods against the losers because the case concerned with the aristocracy. They were exiled to the Caucasus and into Siberia. Deported people called the Caucasus Warm Siberia. Kirill Zdanevich’s ancestor was also a military insurgent of the Polish national uprising in 1863 and deported to the Caucasus. Karaman Kutateladze: “Military personals were not settled in cities, thus ancestor of Kirill Zdanevich lived in one of the villages of the Kutais Governorate. His parents inhabited in Tifl is2 and they had a villa in Kojori, wherein Kirill was born in 1892. Father Michail was a french language teacher at the fi rst gymnasium in Tifl is. His mother was Georgian origin, Valentina Gamkrelidze. She was a pianist. Unfortunately, I don’t know from which city of Poland ancestor of Kirill was originated”3. Kirill Zdanevich received elementary art education in Tifl is. He also took classes of a very famous painter by that time Nikolay Sklifas- ovsky4 and then continued his studies at St. Petersburg Academy of Art, but he didn’t complete the course. The fi rst personal exhibition of Kirill Zdanevich opened in Moscow and Tbilisi in 1911. In 1913 Kirill Zdanevich headed to Paris to study fi ne art. In Paris he was working in the workshop of the sculptor Alexander Archipen- ko5 and opened his solo exhibition. His works had been so much appreciated, that collectors purchased some of them. Even Pablo Picasso visited the exhibition and wrote on the wall “5+Picasso”. After the outbreak of World War I, Kirill Zdanevich was called on the North-West front. Fearless fi ghter was awarded several medals, which he sold during times of hardship. The war stopped his creative life, but after returning from the front he started painting over again. Kirill Zdanevich became a member of “Futurist Syndicate”. Later, he joined the “leftists” among them were representatives of various fi elds of art. Kirill Zdanevich was making intellectual-cultural life of the then Tifl is varied. He was a theater designer and working with Kote Mar- janishvili6, designing very beautiful scenic decorations in Tifl is

2 Capital city of Georgia was called as Tiﬂ is until 1936. 3 K. Kutateladze, oral history interview was submitted by Maka Khutsishvili, Georgia, Tbilisi 2014. 4 Nikolay Sklifasovsky was a Russian origin painter and teacher. He moved to Georgia in 1895. Sklifasovsky opened courses in drawing and painting in his house. 5 Alexander Archipenko was a Ukrainian-born American avant-garde artist, sculptor, and graphic artist. He lived in Paris during the years from 1908 to 1914. 6 Kote Marjanishvili was a Georgian theater director (1872-1933). A REPRESSED POLISH PAINTER IN SOVIET GEORGIA 221

Opera House. Alongside the local artists Sergei Sudeikin7, Lado Gudiashvili8, and others Kirill Zdanevich also painted the Tifl is artistic café “Kimerioni” (currently Rustaveli Theater), decorated Art-cafes – “Argonavtebis Navi” and “Fantastiuri Dukani” with murals. Karaman Kutateladze: “Kirill referred to himself as Polish and a Georgian too. He was very appreciated in Poland. After returning from fi fteen years of exile in the late 1960s, when he visited Warsaw was accepted as a national hero. His book about Pirosmani was trans- lated into Polish language. Valeria, fi rst wife of Kirill was Polish origin, sister of painter Zyg- munt Valishevski9. He had a son from the fi rst marriage. For the second time he got married a Georgian lady. From the second marriage he had two daughters – my mother and my aunt. He made a friend with the Georgian artists, writers: Elene Akhvlediani10, Lado Gudiashvili, Paolo Iashvili11, Titsian Tabidze12, Grigol Robakidze13, generally he had friendly relations with Blue Horn Modernists14. Kirill has written notable memories about them”15.

The discovery of Pirosmani Georgian ﬁ ne arts are enriched by unique works by Kirill Zdanev- ich. Except that Kirill Zdanevich created the original masterpieces along with his brother Ilya and their friend, artist Mikhail Le Dantiu completely unexpectedly discovered remarkable paintings by an unknown and untrained artist in a wine cellar in Tiﬂ is in 1912. Up to this moment he had also noticed on the store banners and signboards such kinds of paintings. Actually, brothers Ilya and Kirill Zdanevich discovered Georgian painter Pirosmani and promoted his works in Georgia and to the then European art society. Karaman Kutateladze: “discovery of Pirosmani was related to futur- istic theories. Kirill and Ilya saw inside him a Georgian genetic remem- brance, immediacy, which was exactly compatible with these theories.

7 Sergei Sudeikin was a Russian painter. He arrived to Tiﬂ is in 1919. 8 Lado Gudiashvili was a Georgian painter (1896-1980). 9 Zigmunt Valishevski was a Polish origin painter (1897-1936). 10 Elene Akhvlediani was a Georgian painter (1898-1975). 11 Paolo Iashvili was a Georgian poet (1894-1937). 12 Titsian Tabidze was a Georgian poet (1895-1937). 13 Grigol Robakidze was a Georgian writer, publicist (1880-1962). 14 “Tsisferkantselebi” a literary movement of Georgian symbolist poets and writers founded in 1916. 15 K. Kutateladze, oral history interview was submitted by Maka Khutsishvili, Georgia, Tbilisi 2014. 222 MAKA KHUTSISHVILI

Pirosmani was a gift for them. Ilya writes: “this was my dream, which came true”. The brothers Zdanevich spent a lot of energy to popularize Pirosmani, made the European art public sure to recognize Piro- smani as a great artist. They organized Pirosmani works’ exhibition at the Louvre. Kirill wrote a book about Pirosmani, which published in 1926”16. Kirill Zdanevich started collecting his paintings, was looking for them everywhere, he also found their author and decided to organize an exhibition dedicated to these works. In 1916 the Georgian newspaper “Sakhalkho Furceli” reported the following information: “The exhibition of Niko Pirosmanashvili’s drawings. Tomorrow, Thursday, on 5 May at the atelier of K. M. Zdanevich will take place an exhibition of paintings (collected by K. M. Zdanevich) of People’s artist Niko Pirosmanashvili during only one day, you can see the exhibition from 12:00 p.m. to 16:00 p.m. Free entrance. Sviatopolk-Mirski street № 6, Gubini street corner. House of Prince Andronikashvili. In the yard second ﬂ oor”17.

Piece of the Georgian newspaper: “Sakhalkho Furtseli” in original (Public sheet).

16 K. Kutateladze, oral history interview was submitted by Maka Khutsishvili, Georgia, Tbilisi 2014. 17 Sakhalkho Furceli, 1916 May 4, N566, p. 2. A REPRESSED POLISH PAINTER IN SOVIET GEORGIA 223

Exactly on that day the then Tifl is society saw for the fi rst time absolute genial paintings of an unknown artist. Actually, Pirosmani is a present of the Polish origin brothers to the Georgian people. *** It is well known, that the Soviet system demanded strict obedience in all areas of life, free thinking was unacceptable. During the “Great Terror” many intellectuals were executed or deported to Siberia. Repressions continued in 1940s not on a large scale, but in this period also were persecuted “unsustainable” and “harmful” elements, which were called “enemies of people”. Karaman Kutateladze: “Kirill was an artist, futurist, they also were called as formalists, which was in contradiction with the framework of socialist art and as “unsustainable” person he was arrested in 1947. He was sentenced to ten years, sent to the Gulag (Inta Komi ASSR). Legends had been walking of how Kirill deeply loved Tbilisi’s “Dinamo”18. 40 degrees of frost he used to go out to the plac (only there was a radio) and listened to during two hours, how “Dinamo” was winning or losing. If “Dinamo” lost when entered inside, prisoners did on his shoulder a black ribbon. Kirill painted even during his stay in exile. After ten years of imprison- ment he had been in exile for fi ve years near Moscow and had not right to live in Moscow or in Tbilisi. As I know from my mother they came in and looked for something (for a certain period of time Kirill lived in Moscow, cooperated with the Foreger theater, publishing houses, in Moscow he had an apartment and he was arrested in Moscow) in searching the empty whiskey bottle fell out of the window. Kirill had a Scottish friend writer, journalist. He brought this whiskey and friends drank together. That was the reason for the arrest as a spy, which drinks whiskey with the West agent. When he was released from prison demanded the case, which turned out to be completely empty. There is no real charge of why he was arrested. He was released a year earlier, than he had given. Overall, he spent 14 years in custody. After release he lived for ten years. When he arrived had nothing. As my mother told me, friends gave him clothes”19. Kirill Zdanevich passed away in 1969. He is interred in Didube Pantheon in Tbilisi. It should be noted that Kirill’s brother Ilya was also artist and a representative of Georgian avant-garde. Ilya Zdanevich left the Soviet Union in 1930s and moved to Paris, there continued his activity.

18 Dinamo Tbilisi is a Georgian professional football club. It is founded in 1925. 19 K. Kutateladze, oral history interview was submitted by Maka Khutsishvili, Georgia, Tbilisi 2014. 224 MAKA KHUTSISHVILI

Kirill Zdanevich, volunteer during World War I Photograph from the Archives of Georgian State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography A REPRESSED POLISH PAINTER IN SOVIET GEORGIA 225

Conclusion Kirill Zdanevich along with his brother Ilya brought to Georgia the modernist avant-garde, which is called contemporary art today. Actu- ally by this means Kirill Zdanevich was establishing European values in Georgia and by popularizing of Pirosmani promoting Georgian culture in the West, which was isolated in the Soviet space at that time. On the initiative of Kirill Zdanevich’s grandson, Karaman Kutateladze founded an annual international festival of modern art named after the Brothers Zdaneviche in Georgia. Kirill Zdanevich was educated in Europe (In France); befriended Pablo Picasso and other European artists; had organized some exhibi- tions in Europe; and was Polish origin. For the above-listed reasons Kirill Zdanevich was completely unacceptable to the Soviet ideology. Georgian-Polish relations are various. These are not only cultural connections; it is a sharing history of the people having a great culture, who had to live under the same system for a certain period.

A repressed Polish painter in Soviet Georgia during Stalin’s terror Kirill Zdanevich

Kirill Zdanevich was a polish origin painter, graphic artist, and scene -designer. He was born in 1892 near Tiflis. Kirill Zdanevich got education in Russia and Europe. In 1912 moved to St. Petersburg, where he entered the Higher Art Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture under the Imperial Academy of Arts. One year later (1913) he headed to Paris to continue studying and actively involved in the European artistic society. After the First World War started he was called up for military service. Together with his brother Ilya Zdanevich he brought avant-garde art in Georgia for the first time and discovered a uniqueness of the works of the Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani. After this unexpected discovery Kirill Zdanevich organized the first exhibition of Niko Pirosmani’s works at his home for the Georgian public. He did not spare his efforts to popularize Pirosmani’s output in Georgia and Europe as well. In 1947 he was arrested as a spy and deported to Siberia. Being into exile slowed his activity, where had been about for 10 years. The article is based largely on the oral history interview recorded with Karaman Kutateladze, grandson of Kirill Zdanevich in Tbilisi in 2014. 226 MAKA KHUTSISHVILI

Ilya Zdanevich (left), Tyﬂ is, 1919 Photograph from the Karaman Kutateladze family archive