The book “Azerbaijan Cartoon Yesterday and Today” was published
The book “Azerbaijan Cartoon Yesterday and Today” by Bayram Hajizadeh, the President of Azerbaijan Cartoonists’ Union, is the third book of the author published in this field. Hundreds of cartoons have been placed in this book that involves 100 year period of time, beginning from the works of the first cartoonists of “Molla Nasraddin” magazine, such as Oscar Shmerling, Iosif Rotter, Azim Azimzadeh till the works of young cartoonists. The works of nearly all cartoonists of Azerbaijan and short information about each of them are placed in the book. We shan’t be far out in calling this book a manual of Azerbaijan cartoon. When we turn over the pages of the book, our cartoon art is automatically divided into periods of time. The first period involves 1906-1920s. The influence of Russian drawing on Azerbaijan satiric art in the period of tsarist Russia is undeniable. Although this period was the formation one in Azerbaijan cartoon art, ideologically and aesthetically determined steppes had been taken in this period. The second period involves 1922-1931s. Severe censorship of the Soviet government gradually exerted influence and pressure on cartoon art too. Soviet censorship tried to subordinate cartoon art ideologically, to subdue artists’ freedom and imagination. That’s why, 1931-1952s, the period of repressions, was the apathetic period of our cartoon art. The fourth period of Azerbaijan cartoon art is 1952-1990s. This period is connected with the creation of “Kirpi” satiric magazine. Although “Kirpi” served the soviet ideology, it most often crossed the boundaries defined for it. On the pages of this magazine courageous works of such artists as Najafgulu, P.Shandin, Z.Karimbayli, S.Sharifzadeh, V.Ternavski, H.Hagverdiyev, A.Guliyev, R.Guliyev and others were displayed. The last period, 1990-2006s, deals with already independent Azerbaijan cartoon art. In this period young cartoonists’ generation had grown up which was ready to develop present-day Azerbaijan cartoon art and decently represent it on international world, keeping A.Azimzadeh school alive. In 2006, in connection with the creation of Azerbaijan Cartoonists’ Union, interest for this genre increased a great deal. Information about different activities done, measures arranged, books and albums published in this field was given in the book. The participation and achievements of our artists in international contests and festivals, and prizes they won were widely elucidated there. The book “Azerbaijan Cartoon Yesterday and Today” that was compiled as a result of Bayram Hajizadeh’s hard work, would serve to the development of cartoon art in the Republic. Cartoon is the indicator of both art and strong intellect. High cultural level and strong intellect is the guarantor of future achievements of Azerbaijan.
