Yury (Georges) Annenkov was a Russian-French artist and illustrator, born on January 23, 1889, in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. He studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts and later at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. Annenkov became known for his portraits of prominent figures of the time, including writers, artists, and politicians. His style was characterized by a combination of realism and a subtle use of color, often employing a restrained palette of grays and muted tones.

In 1917, Annenkov left Russia and settled in Paris, where he continued to work as an artist and illustrator. He contributed to several avant-garde magazines, including "Les Feuilles libres" and "La Révolution surréaliste," and illustrated books by writers such as André Gide and Jean Cocteau. During World War II, Annenkov joined the French Resistance and used his artistic skills to create fake identity papers for Resistance members. He died on November 12, 1974, in Paris, France, leaving behind a legacy of portraits that capture the spirit of the early 20th century.