10 PAINTINGS of Russian Neoclassicism art
Dreamer and idealist painters of the early 20th century united around the magazine ‘Mir Iskusstva’ (‘World of Art’) and, inspired by Classical antiquity, gave impetus to a new direction in painting.
At the turn of the 20th century, the most talented Russian artists of their time were looking for a new artistic language. And they turned to Antiquity and the Renaissance. Thus, a new style was born – Russian Neoclassicism – which opposed the realism of 'peredvizhniki' and the social themes they reflected in art.
The followers of the new trend were idealists and dreamers and they shared their aesthetic vision uniting around the ‘Mir Iskusstva’ (‘World of Art’) magazine, issued by Sergei Diaghilev. Among the loudest names were artists Leon Bakst, Zinaida Serebryakova, Alexander Samokhvalov, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin and even Kazimir Malevich.
They went beyond the framework of academic painting, penetrated into the book graphics, design and architecture, in the scenography (worth just costumes and scenery of Diaghilev’s ‘Ballet Russes’!)
1. Leon Bakst. Terror Antiquus, 1908
2. Boris Kustodiev. Group Portrait of the World of Art Artists, 1916
3. Valentin Serov. The Rape of Europa, 1910
4. Zinaida Serebryakova. Nude, 1911
5. Alexander Yakovlev & Vasily Shukhaev. Self-Portraits (Harlequin and Pierrot), 1914
6. Konstantin Somov. Self-portrait. 1898
7. Alexander Benoit. Sketch of the scenery for Stravinsky's 'Petrushka' ballet
8. Ivan Bilibin. Baba Yaga. 1900
9. Eugene Lancere. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in Tsarskoye Selo, 1905
10. Konstantin Korovin. Portrait of Fyodor Chaliapin, 1911
