Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Icons; developed from a folk art tradition and now Russia's signature art form.
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Avant-Garde
In the 20th century, Russian art became a mishmash of groups, styles and 'isms', as it ab-
sorbed decades of European change in a few years. It finally gave birth to its own avant-
garde futurist movements.
Mikhail Larionov (1881-1964) and Natalya Goncharova (1881-1962) developed
neoprimitivism, a movement based on popular arts and primitive icons. Just a few years
later, Kazimir Malevich (1878-1935) announced the arrival of suprematism. His utterly ab-
stract geometrical shapes (with the black square representing the ultimate 'zero form') freed
art from having to depict the material world and made it a doorway to higher realities.
Another famed futurist, who managed to escape subordinate 'isms', was Vladimir
Mayakovsky, who was also a poet. Works by all of these artists are on display at the New
Tretyakov Gallery, as well as the Moscow Museum of Modern Art.
An admirer of Malevich, Alexander Rodchenko (1891-1956) was one of the founders of
the constructivist movement. He was a graphic designer, sculptor and painter, but he is best
known for his innovative photography. Rodchenko's influence on graphic design is immeas-
urable, as many of his techniques were used widely later in the 20th century.
BOGATYRS
Among the most beloved of Russian paintings is the evocative Bogatyrs,by Viktor
Vasnetsov (on display at the Tretyakov). The oil painting depicts three characters from
Russian folklore, or bylina. Heroic Ilya Muromets is supposedly based on an actual his-
toric medieval warrior and monk; Dobrynya Nikitich is a noble warrior best known for
defeating a dragon; and the cunning and crafty Alyosha Popovich often outsmarts his
foes. Bylinawas originally an oral tradition - a narrative song - that passed down le-
gends of Kyivan Rus. The stories were published in written form starting in the 18th
century. Vasnetsov's Russian revival paintings are yet another recasting of these an-
cient tales.
