Venev, Stoyan Iliev. Born on September 21, 1904 in the village of Skrynyano, Kyustendil municipality – died on March 20, 1989 in Sofia. Graduated from high school in Kyustendil (1928). Already during his school years, he began drawing cartoons for various newspapers and magazines – “Red Laughter”, “Ringer”, “Echo” and others. These cartoons of his are signed with the pseudonym Proletarche. Graduated painting at the Art Academy – Sofia under Prof. B. Mitov, Prof. St. Ivanov and Prof. D. Gyuzhenov (1931). Already in his early creative years, he became widely popular. His works are mainly in painting, but he also paints graphics and caricatures. The first exhibitions in which he participated were in the 1930s. He participated in exhibitions together with the sculptor Ivan Funev. He was brought to justice several times because of the anti-fascist ideas in some of his works. Other main themes in Stoyan Venev’s paintings are folk folklore and life. After September 9, 1944, he published many of his cartoons in the newspapers “Stershel”, “Rabotnichesko delo” and others. His paintings were also very successful.
