Mikhail Pavlovich Trufanov was born November 22, 1921, in village of Nyzhnie Peny, Kursk Governorate, Soviet Russia (now Rakityansky District, Belgorod Oblast) in a working-class family.

This time impressions influenced in the future on the formation of the young artist and choose the theme for his main paintings.

[clarification needed][2] In 1937–1940, Trufanov studied at the Odessa Art School, which ended only after World War II in 1945.

His graduation work was a historical painting named "In the headquarters of Kovpak", dedicated to partisan movement in the years of the Great Patriotic War.

They embody a collective image of blast-furnace operators, miners, steelworkers, and brought the author well-deserved recognition.