Karandash

Karandash (Russian карандаш = pencil, Mikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev actually, Russian Михаил Николаевич Румянцев; * 27 Novemberjul / December 10 1901greg in Saint Petersburg, .. † March 31, 1983 in Moscow) was a Russian clown.

Etymology

The Russian word karan wath (Russian: карандаш ) for dt pencil does not come from the name of the Swiss company Caran d'Ache writing instruments. Proven knew the Russians in the 18th century, the word Karandash " black stone ", which is also for German Bleyfeder (pencil ) and Rothelstein ( crayon ) was used. Russian Karandash is said to derive from Turkish kara (black ) and the (stone, slate).

Life

Mikhail Rumjanzews was the son of a locksmith, who worked in a Siemens factory. The mother died in 1907 - his father married a second time. Rumjanzews attended a school of graphic design, which he, however, did not finish. Instead, he went to the village of his father, where he was a poster artist in a small theater. From there he moved to Tver and finally to Moscow. Here he decided in 1926 to attend the Moscow School of Circus and Variety Arts then newly founded. As one of the first graduates of this school Mikhail Rumyantsev immitierte a while the actor Charlie Chaplin. Then Rumjanzews put the artist name Karandash to and developed his own costume and a character of its own: a country man - in worn and too much clothing - continued the observations of everyday life into comedy. His trademark was doing a donkey, with whom he performed: Karandash has spent his life looked his people not only on the mouth, but also in the face, not only on arms and legs, but also on jacket and trousers and distilled his observations on the comic.

Quote

Of course I did not say anything, but what I said, that should be up to date. Each artist has his own way to the truth. I chose the comical way.