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Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan Painting by Ilya Repin
Replin represented Russia's time of realism. As one of the most prominent Russian artists in the 19th century, he held a significant hold in the art world. The controversial painting pictured is of Ivan the terrible. It shows just after Tsar fatally hit his son and is wrought with emotions. Filled with raw emotion, it has been said Ivan's eyes can cause madness. It was also the first painting to be censored by the empire, with a ban placed by Tsar Alexander III against public display. -
The Priest of Tarquin, Lubov Popova
Popova was an artist with background in design, teaching and textiles. Popova leaned into the abstract style of art and helped create the Russian avante-garde style.
Futurism and geometric cubism were starting to find their place in Russian art culture. The idea of constructivism was also rising to popularity. This type of transformative thinking within the art corresponded with the beginnings of the Russian Revolution. Which Popova designed Red propaganda posters and textiles for. -
Balck Square, Kazimir Malevich
This is "the black square", the highest selling piece of Russian art ever. It was new and weird, capturing the intent to leave reality and to create a universe of shape and concept.
Malevich was the founder of suprematism, this is the abstract art that uses geometric forms and careful colors. Malevich helped spread this type of art across Russia. Geometric shapes were the core of both suprematism and constructivism, but Malevich felt himself and his art separate from the political agenda. -
Non-Objective Painting No. 80: Black on Black, Aleksandr Rodchenko
Rodchenko helped pioneer constructivism, he was a communist and an supporter of the Russian Revolution. He started as conventional artist, however, his work much like the world views he adopted were prone to the social setting he was placed in. The social idea of experimenting with form and concept was starting to become very popular in the art world. He wanted to be new and creative, and abandoned painting, declaring it dead. Moving to geometry, sculptures, and photography. -
Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge, El Lissitzky
Big part of the avante-garde and constructivism scene. Lissitzky worked with physical design. His work was very political and connected to the USSR's WWII propaganda, with a hand in designing the posters. Geometry and minimalism influenced a large part of the 20th-century designs. -
Costume design
Tchelitchew was a popular surrealist, that worked with sets and costumes. He was born into aristocracy and money which is reflected with the more elegant style of design. However during the revolution he had to flee Russia. He moved from country to country and his work reflects the idea of dark and disturbed times. Like much of Russia he lived through hard times during and after the revolution. This is reflected in the artwork of the time. With eerie and horror-filled work. -
Composition 10, Kandinsky
This piece was made after the desperation of WW1 and right before WW2 started. Brighter colors show what Russia was feeling before the desperation and hard times of the second world war. Kandinsky was a pioneer of modern abstract art. He felt that painting was spiritual and that art showed the artists inner world. He went to Munich for art school and returned to Russia in 1914 which was during the height of WWI. He taught at a art school after until it was shut down by nazis. -
Landscape with Rooster by Marc Chagall, 1958.
This work was one of the first of Russian pieces that showed the idea of a dream world. Despite the wartime hardships of this time and the subsequent financial struggles this was a time of subtle optimism. Russia was starting to take small inspiration from the French which is evident in this piece. After WWI, Russia became the Soviet Union, and the art scene began to shift to more of an avante-garde style. -