Antonina
Fedorovna Safronova 1892-1966

Antonina Sofronova was born in the village of Droskovo, Oryol Province, in 1892 into the family of Feodor Vasilievich Sofronov (1859-1936), a zemstvo doctor. His mother was Alexandra Nikolaevna Sofronova, née Kulakova (1862-1919). Sisters: Elena Fedorovna Pumpyanskaya (1884-1960) - teacher; Lidia Fedorovna Safronova (pseudonym Irnina; 1888-1980) - actress and translator; Evgenia Fedorovna Ilyina (1900-1984) - biologist. The spelling of the surname through A (Safronova) in some sources is equivalent to the spelling with O.

In 1902-1909 she studied at the N.N. Volodkevich Commercial Female School in Kiev, she graduated with a gold medal.

In 1908 the family moved to Oryol, where Sofronova studied at a music school.

From 1910 to 1913 she studied at the Art School of F.I. Rerberg in Moscow, from 1913 to 1917 she studied at the Studio of Painting and Drawing I. I. Mashkov. At the Studio Mashkova met in 1913 with the artist G. M. Blumenfeld (baptized Andrew; 1893-1920), whom she married in the fall of 1915, and then gave birth to her daughter Irina, who became an artist and promoter of the work of Sofronova and artists of her circle.

In 1914 she participated in the exhibition of the "Jack of Diamonds" group, in 1917 - in the exhibition of the "World of Art" association. In 1917 she joined the professional Union of Artists-Painters in Moscow.

In 1919-1920 she taught painting and drawing at schools in Orel and Orel Province, in 1920-1921 - in the State Free Art Workshops in Tver together with M. K. Sokolov, her creative associate and friend.

From the 1920s she collaborated with Moscow publishing houses, creating illustrations and headpieces for magazines.

In 1931 she participated in the 3rd exhibition of the "Thirteen", becoming close to the artists of this direction, especially with Tatiana Mavrina, her husband Nikolai Kuzmin (1890-1987), Daniil Daran (1894-1964), later communicated with the circle of Fyodor Semenov-Amursky.

From 1935 to 1937 she illustrated Rise of the Angels by Anatole France at the request of Academia Publishers and designed covers for the works of Honoré de Balzac. From 1938 to 1958, until her retirement, she worked on contract as a retoucher in the publishing house Medgiz.

In 1941 she and her daughter's family were evacuated to Miass, then to Bashkiria until 1943.

In 1945 she was accepted as a member of the International Union of Artists.

In 1947-1950 worked in the summer in the village Dzhunkovka near Moscow, then in 1952-1965 in Zvenigorod, in 1956 - in the Crimea (Bakhchisarai).

From April 20 to May 5, 1962 held Sofronova's first solo exhibition at the Central House of Writers, organized with the support of Vladimir Lidin.

In Moscow she lived in the mansard of an 1825 mansion in Bolshoy Afanasievsky Lane (in Soviet times "Myaskovsky Street"), 9, sq. 6.

She is buried in Vostryakovsky cemetery.