Russian+Art

Chelsey, Claire, and Lizzy!

[|18th Century] In most of Europe, the 18th century is referred to as a time of "Enlightenment." Many new ideas and ways of thinking prepared European culture to make "way for the rapid 'progress' of the following century." During this period, Russia wanted to follow along with the rest of Western culture and incorporate the new styles of art into its own. As the rollins site states, "By sending talented students to study in Europre, employing foreign artits, and importing the works of European masters, the Russian rulers were able to insure the penetration of Western aesthetic ideals into the fabric of Russian artistic life."

This time period included a lot of change for the culture of Russia, especially in the artwork. A majority of well-known works from this time focused on historical events, naturalism in landscapes, and realism along with appropriateness in portraits. Many portraits also included the use of symbolism, provoked by the changes in society.

One such example of this symbolism can be seen in the work of Russian painter Vladimir Lukich Borovikovskii. He focused his passions entirely on “religious” art and the portraits of Russian icons. In his painting, Portrait of Anna Ivanovna Bezborodko with Her Daughters Liubov and Cleopatra//,// viewers can see symbolism within his color choices—olive, lilac, and pearl demonstrate harmony and peace. His piece entitled Portrait of Alexander Borisovich Kurakin also uses symbolism to illustrate the close connection between the painting’s subject and the emperor. To do this, Borovikovskii includes the cross of the Order of the Knights of Malta (which the emperor founded) four times in the painting, along with the emperor’s insignia and a double-headed gold eagle.

18th century art in Russia was just a hint to the vast changes to come in the 19th century.

[|19th Century] A time of great changes and developments that led to the making of a Russian school of art. The historical and cultural developments of Russia can be found in numerous artistic movements

-Romanticism -Ideological Realism -Russian Revival 

Early in the century, Russia’s art continued to share much in common with European art. With the arrival of Romanticism, portraits and representations of historical events began to change. According to the Rollins site, “Russian artists took renewed interest in the world surrounding them instead of admiring distant European countries.” 

In the Russian development of ideal and cohesive style, Karl Briullov occupies an important place. His famous The Last Day of PompeliThe Last Day of Pompeli showed how completely the Russian artists have mastered the Western artistic idiom and technical advancements.

The next movement is known as ideological realism, where artists felt the need to go beyond art’s aesthetic functions and to play a role in the moral and social education of the population. Russia and it’s people became the new focus of attention, which can be seen in Perov’s works of art whose realistic style heightened the focus of his criticism. As ideological realism developed, the social criticism merged with the genre of historical painting, which can be seen particularly well in the works of Surikov. In the late 19th Century a movement known as the Slavi Revival grew out of the conflict between those who believed that Russia should define itself in Western terms and those who thought that a return to and rediscovery of Russian heritage was best for the nation. The Slavic Revival focused on the medieval art and architecture of Russia and the richness of the Russian culture found in the lives of peasants.

[|20th Century] In the early 20th century, Russian artists took other European styles and made them their own. According to Rollins.edu, “they initiated new and exciting artistic experiments which would ultimately change the face and the direction of modern art.” There were many new movements instilled throughout this period of time, such as constructivism, cubism, cubo-futurism, neo-primitivism, rayonism, and suprematism.

Some of the major proponents of these movements in Russia were Bakst, Benois, Chagall, Filonov, Goncharova, Kandinskii, Larionov, Popova, and Rozanova.