2022 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of the great Bulgarian painter Ivan Nenov (1902-1997). Born in Sofia on May 17, 1902, he died at the age of 95 in 1997, and during his long creative journey, the painter passed through different currents in art, is tempted by sculpture, graphics and mosaic.

On the occasion of the anniversary, the National History Museum (NIM) presents in a virtual exhibition the life and work of Ivan Nenov, as well as his wife Ekaterina Savova-Nenova (1901-1980) and the exhibits related to them, which are stored in the museum's funds. The "Ivan Nenov-Ekaterina Savova-Nenova" collection also includes items related to their family. The cultural values ​​entered the NIM in 2001 and 2002 as a significant donation made by the niece of Ivan Nenova - Sofia Toteva Armenkova. The donation is primarily of a documentary nature and includes documents, awards, books, objects, clothing and works of art. A representative part of it is shown in the exhibition "Ivan Nenov (1902-1997). The Life of an Artist", opened at the National Museum of Art on November 13, 2002.

Ivan Nenov was born on May 17, 1902 in Sofia, in the family of Dr. Vasil Ivanov Nenov (1876-1950) and Senka Venkova Kmetova (1880?-1903). A year after his birth, his mother died. Little Ivan was taken care of by his father, who played a big role in his formation - he managed to pass on to his son the love of French culture, arts and literature. He himself was tempted to write poems, he collaborated with the magazine "Misl", he was friends with P. Yu. Todorov and P. K. Yavorov.

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