Karandash

This article is about the Russian clown. For the French cartoonist, see Caran d'Ache , the Swiss writing instrument maker Caran d'Ache (company) .

Soviet postage stamp in honor of Rumyantsev (1989)

Karandash ( Russian карандаш "pencil", actually Mikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev , Russian Михаил Николаевич Румянцев ; born November 27 ^{. Jul} / 10. December  1901 ^greg. In Saint Petersburg , † 31 March 1983 in Moscow ) was a Russian clown .

etymology

The Russian word karandasch (Russian: карандаш ) for German "pencil" does not come from the name of the Swiss writing instrument company Caran d'Ache . There is evidence that the Russians already knew the word Karandasch "black stone" in the 18th century , which was also used for German Bleyfeder (pencil) and Röthelstein (crayon). Russian Karandasch is said to be derived from the Turkish kara (black) and daš (stone, slate).

Life

Mikhail Rumyantsev was the son of a locksmith who worked in a Siemens factory. The mother died in 1907 - the father married a second time. Rumyantsev attended a graphics school, which he did not finish. Instead he went to his father's village, where he became a poster painter in a small theater . From there he moved to Tver and finally to Moscow . Here he decided in 1926 to attend the then newly founded Moscow School of Circus and Variety Arts. As one of the first to graduate from this school, Mikhail Rumyantsev imitated actor Charlie Chaplin for a while . Then Rumyantsev adopted the stage name Karandasch and developed his own costume and character: a country man - in worn-out and oversized clothing - translated everyday observations into comedy. His trademark was a donkey with which he appeared: all his life Karandasch looked his people not only in the mouth, but also in the face, not only on arms and legs, but also on jacket and trousers and distilled his observations into comedy.

Karandasch's grave in the Kunzewo Cemetery in Moscow

Quote

Of course I didn't say everything, but what I said should be timely.
Every artist has his own path to truth. I chose the weird way.

literature

• Karl Hoche : From Chaplin impersonator to folk comedian: Karandasch. In: Karl Hoche, Toni Meissner, Bartel F. Sinhuber: The great clowns. Athenaeum, Königstein im Taunus 1982, pp. 76-83.

Web links

• Pressed on the laughing muscles with a donkey number. In: Moskauer Deutsche Zeitung of March 21, 2003.
• Biography , Geroi strany (Russian)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Karl Hoche, p. 76f.
2. ^ Karl Hoche, p. 83.
3. ↑ Pressed on the laughing muscles with donkey numbers. In: Moskauer Deutsche Zeitung of March 21, 2003.