Suprematism

Yakov Georgievich Chernikhov was a Soviet architect and graphic artist, author of scientific works on the theory of architecture and a talented teacher. His name is not well known in Ukraine, although he was born in the current Dnepropetrovsk region and lived in Odesa for about ten years, studied at the Higher Art School. Possessing powerful spatial thinking and imagination, Chernikhov devoted his life to creating bold architectural projects in the spirit of Constructivism and became the spokesman for the ideas of the avant-garde of the early 20th century, which influenced many modern architects.

A talented and original Ukrainian artist, a bright and influential representative of avant-garde painting and scenography. Her career was marked by constant innovative searches, as a result of which she made a significant contribution to the development of both Ukrainian and Russian painting avant-garde, decorative and applied art and scenography.The studio school that Alexandra Alexandrovna opened in Kyiv laid the foundations for new methods of teaching fine art. Ekster participated in most of the exhibitions held until 1925 in the capitals of Russia and Ukraine, exhibited her works in Germany, France and the USA.She was one of the first artists to receive lifetime recognition, as evidenced by numerous articles in periodicals of various countries, in particular, an illustrated monograph written in four languages by J. Tugendhold, a famous art critic and influential connoisseur of new French art (1922, Berlin).

A Russian artist, one of the "Amazons" of the avant-garde in Russia. Udaltsova devoted most of her career to easel painting; in the late period of her work, she was engaged in graphics. The artist was an active member and exhibitor of the “Jack of Diamonds”, “World of Art”, “Supremus”, “Moscow Painters”, and “13”.Having successively passed through the stages of Cubism, Cubo-futurism and Suprematism that logically followed Constructive art, the artist moved away from the avant-garde, since she preferred the aesthetics of figurative painting.As a teacher, she developed the innovative Object in Space course for free art workshops and the Institute of Art Culture, where she began working as an assistant to Malevich. The artist devoted more than ten years to teaching - before being accused of formalism and dismissed.The art of Udaltsova, an artist of the era, is distinguished by harmony, the integrity of compositions, and boldness of experiments. Her paintings, which have undeniable artistic and collection value, are in the largest museums in Russia and private collections.

A Russian artist and master of photography, a significant figure of the Russian avant-garde, the closest aide and follower of Kazimierz Malewicz during the heyday of Cubofuturism and the functioning of the officially unregistered community of avant-garde artists Supremus.Following the author of the famous "Black Square" reflected not only in the paintings of Mikhail Menkov, but also in his declarative statements, which he published in the form of leaflets before significant exhibitions of avant-garde artists. He was a participant in the “Jack of Diamonds” exhibitions and the first post-revolutionary large-scale exhibitions.Menkov gave examples of Russian-Ukrainian Cubofuturism and Suprematism, as well as colour painting in the visual arts. He left a not too extensive legacy in the form of paintings and theoretical works created during his short creative career due to his early death at the age of 40. Paintings that he sent from Yalta where he was receiving treatment were lost on the way to Moscow. Some works were destroyed in the 1930s as “formalistic”; only those “exiled” to regional museums were preserved. Besides that, the artist devoted much time to photography – thanks to that work, a number of avant-garde exhibitions were held in Moscow and Petrograd.Paintings of Menkov were presented at the exhibition «Auf der Suche nach 0,10 - die letzte futuristische Ausstellung der Malerei» held in Basil, Switzerland in 2015-2016 in honour of the anniversary of “The Last Futuristic Exhibition Zero-Ten” in Petrograd.

A Russian Jewish-born artist and designer, one of the closest students and followers of Kazimir Malevich, a bright and consistent supporter of the Suprematism of the younger generation. Developing the theoretical achievements of the author of the “Black Square” and not being distracted by other styles, Ilya Chashnik created large series of abstract geometric graphic works and paintings.The artist created dozens of different types of sketches for china. The simple Suprematist shapes of squares, triangles, rectangles when moving to the rounded surfaces of cups and dishes acquired a special expressiveness, new plastic beauty, which brought success to the Russian avant-garde porcelain in 1925 at the international Paris exhibition of decorative art. After that, Ilya Chashnik worked a lot on export orders; the objects made from his drawings constitute collections of the corresponding period at the State Hermitage Museum and at the State Museum of the Porcelain Factory of St. Petersburg.At the end of his very short (the artist died of peritonitis at the age of 27) creative career, Chashnik experimented in architecture, creating ascetic and laconic "architects" - the practical application of these experiments was work on decorating the city buildings of Petrograd.The artist's works are in demand: they are in many European collections; the absolute record was set by his early work “The Seventh Dimension, Suprematical Relief”, sold at Sotheby's auction house for $ 3 million in 2016.

Ivan Vasilievich Kliun (born Klyonkov) was a russian avant-garde artist, art theorist, a brilliant representative of several recent art movements, including Suprematism - a special branch of Russian Abstractionism of the first half of the 20th century.A companion and friend, as well as a follower of K. Malewicz, who remained in his shadow and even was unjustly considered the “avant-garde of the second row”, was one of the most original masters in both Cubo-Futurism and Suprematism. His best works, no doubt related to the geometric abstractions of the author of the Black Square, are freer in painting, rich in the play of light and shadow, whimsical in terms of irrationalism of forms, sometimes brought by the author to a super-impressive minimum.These qualities attracted connoisseur and collector George Kostaki, thanks to whom the master's works were preserved and became known later. Traveling to Greece, Kostaki was forced to donate a part of his personal collection to his country; thus, the work of Kliun ended up at the Tretyakov Gallery and other main collections of the USSR.Ivan Kliun was an active participant in the cultural life of the “futuristic” capitals of Russia, an exhibitor of all significant avant-garde exhibitions, a founding member of the Moscow Salon and Supremus associations, an author of several theoretical treatises, a member of the later group Four Arts.

A Lithuanian painter, master of applied graphics, a prominent art historian, teacher and talented organizer. As a bright representative of the second wave of Russian Suprematism and Constructivism, the artist actively promoted the ideas of new art close to Russian Suprematism in the style of Malevich and Constructivism in the style of Tatlin, as well as such styles as Cubism and Futurism.In 1923, the artist was the first to widely and officially introduce avant-garde art to Lithuanian artists and the public by organizing the New Art Exhibition in Vilnius. The process in this country was much slower, and the efforts undertaken by Kairiūkštis and his like-minded people to introduce the ideas of the European avant-garde significantly accelerated changes in Lithuanian art.At the invitation of Kairiūkštis, Polish Constructivists from “The Bloc” participated in the “New Exhibition”. This allowed Lithuanian artists to become members of this Warsaw association, and later to join the “Present Tense” group.For about 10 years, the artist headed the painting department at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, organized his own studio, and also worked in Kaunas. As a result of his active pedagogical activity, the entire generation of his compatriots was encouraged to radically depart from Academism.As a researcher of the Lithuanian modernist era, Vytautas Kairiūkštis published a monograph about his fellow countryman, watercolor artist Kajetonas Sklėrius, several articles on the work of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and a number of articles on the theory and history of fine art.

A Russian Italian-born artist who worked in France for many years. Repin's pupil and a brilliant representative of the Russian avant-garde in the early period of his creative work, Jean Pougny worked in the manner of Fauvism and lyrical primitivism in the longer Parisian period of his career.He was the organizer and sponsor of such avant-garde exhibitions as "Tram B" and the last futuristic exhibition "0, 10". In collaboration with his wife, artist Ksenia Boguslavskaya, he wrote a manifesto declaring the liberation of creativity from semantic content. Together with Malewicz, he gave a lecture on “Cubism - Futurism - Suprematism” and became a founding member of the union “Freedom to Art” and the community “0, 10”.He was a professor at the Petrograd free art workshops, collaborated with the newspaper “The Art of the Commune”, at the invitation of Marc Chagall taught at the Vitebsk Folk art school. Having emigrated to Germany, he wrote a controversial book “Modern Art”, which contained not only biased analysis, but also sharp criticism of non-subject matter.Becoming a French citizen, he was twice awarded the Legion of Honor. Pougny’s work of different periods is represented at many museums around the world - except for Russia; those are in France, the United States, Great Britain and other countries.

A Russian artist, graphic artist, designer, stage designer, a major avant-garde master, whose short creative career evolved in the revolutionary era. Lyubov Popova participated in the practical embodiment of the three most important styles - cubism, suprematism and constructivism, wrote programs for students. In 2009, the Tate Gallery in London reconstructed the exhibition “5 x 5 = 25” (Moscow, 1921), organized by the artist along with like-minded people, as the most important for understanding the development of the Russian avant-garde. In 2012, one of the craters of Mercury was named in honor of Popova.

A Ukrainian artist of Jewish origin, a painter, draftsman and sculptor, as well as an inventor who lived and worked in Paris for many years. Born under the name Shulim Wolf Leib Baranov.Baranoff-Rossine was a vivid representative of the Ukrainian and Russian avant-garde. He was recognized throughout Europe and the United States. He invented the color-visual clavier and presented "bell-ring" concerts at the theaters of Russia, France, the Netherlands and the USA. In the Paris Center of G. Pompidou, there is the device itself and the Gallery of visual effects of the opophonic piano.Constantly experimenting with color and light effects, Wladimir Davydovich applied them in the military art, having developed the technique of camouflage in 1939. Baranoff was officially registered as the inventor of the "photochromometer", which allowed to determine the quality of precious stones, as well as the machine "Multiperko", which produced, sterilized, poured carbonated drinks. His inventions received several technical awards, which, unfortunately, did not save the Jewish artist from the Auschwitz gas chamber in 1944.In 1972, the artist's family gave 38 works to the Museum of Modern Art in Paris; his son Dmitry restored the color music piano, which was exhibited in the hall of the Pompidou Center. The artist was presented in 1972 at the exhibition "Significant paintings of Russian artists in French collections", works have been exhibited around the world, in particular, retrospectives at the Tretyakov Gallery in 2002, at the Russian Museum and the Pushkin Museum in 2007.

French painter, a bright representative of the new art, which influenced the emergence and development of such a modernist trend as Cubism. Cezanne is also called the primitive artist in the new painting.The future artist was born in a well-to-do family of a pawnbroker, and then a big banker, Louis Auguste Cezanne. In his youth, Paul was interested in art and literature. He received a good education, excelling in exact sciences and languages. Thanks to the excellent memory, he could memorize whole works of the classics.During his life, Cezanne created over 800 oil paintings, as well as a number of watercolor works. Some of them were destroyed by the artist himself.

A French painter, sculptor, master of the monumental decorative art, one of the grandees of the fine art of the early twentieth century.The father of the future artist was engaged in cattle breeding and died when Fernan was only a few years old. Leger received his primary education at the church school in Tensecheb, and afterward, he studied architecture in Cannes.Fernand Leger played an important role in the formation and dissemination of Cubism and laid the foundations for such avant-garde trends as Neoplasticism and Constructivism. The artist actively collaborated with Cubist group "Golden Section", participated in the exhibitions "Salon of Independent", "Autumn Salon" and avant-garde association "Style", founded by Piet Mondrian in the Netherlands and the Russian "Jack of Diamonds". His interest in the possibility of synthesis of the arts led to the development and implementation of several architectural and design projects. The artist also clearly manifested himself in the field of applied creativity, scenography, cinema and book graphics. Together with Ozenfant, he founded The Free Art School, and later The Contemporary Art Academy. From 1940, the artist lived in the United States, where he taught at Yale University and at Mills College in California and achieved much in promoting contemporary art trends in the country.

Russian avant-garde artist who worked in the styles of Suprematism, Neo-Primitivism and Cubo-Futurism. She created “The Green Line”, a masterpiece in 20th century non-objective painting.In her early works, the artist used decorative and bright contrasts (for example, in “The Red House”). In the design of Futuristic books, the artist skillfully combined “female slyness” with the “horrors of Cubism.”After the revolution, the artist took an active part in the reorganization of art. In the later period of her creativity, Rozanova developed her own method of drawing. It was based on the decorative effect of painting, as well as its colorful aspects.Poet Benedikt Livshits wrote that Olga Rozanova was “a person who knew firmly what she wanted in art, and whose way to her goal was very special, unlike anyone else’s”.

Artist and art theoretician. He was the pioneer of geometric abstract art and the originator of the avant-garde Suprematist movement and Cubo-Futurism.Malevich created his first oil painting at the age of 16. It was named “Moonlit Night”. In his paintings, he tried to combine the principles of Cubism, Futurism and Expressionism. He was also interested in aerial photography and aviation, which led him to abstractions inspired by aerial landscapes.

A Russian artist of Jewish origin, a vivid representative of the avant-garde of the first third of the 20th-century art. El Lissitzky is rightly classified as a “pioneer” in exposition design. His famous prouns (short for “projects of the approval of the new”) conquered Europe - the “Prouns' Room” was created in Berlin, and the principles developed by Lissitzky were used by such artists as V. Tatlin, P. Mondrian, etc.The role of Lissitzky in building effective bridges between the Western avant-garde and Russian post-revolutionary art in the 1920s was significant. Collaborating with many art magazines published in Berlin and Amsterdam, Lissitzky influenced the development of the international graphic design of the XX century and a whole generation of European artists.Lissitzky believed that the artist is an agent of social changes, who seeks and implements a new expressive language through posters with a bright visual effect, easily understood by all social layers in all countries of the world. The propaganda side of many of his works does not overshadow what the artist brought into the use of forms, solid colours, and their organization in the space of the work. His creative concept developed the branch when the totality of the work is a unique style that embodies painting, architecture and sculpture.The artist was an active member of the Jewish national cultural revival, organizer and participant in exhibitions, illustrator of Jewish literature. A valuable contribution to the development of art was his essay “Memories of the Mogilev Synagogue” published in 1923 in Berlin, the only theoretical work by Lissitzky dedicated to Jewish decorative art.

The cycle “Design of architectural and machine forms”, which includes this composition, reflects Chernikhov’s enthusiasm for industrial architecture after he graduated from the Academy of Arts in 1925. His desire to include the most modern technical equipment in everyday reality fully expressed the spirit of the early Soviet avant-garde, when various machines and mechanisms confidently entered the life of every person.

The figure demonstrates the main features of the architectural compositions of Yakov Chernikhov: asymmetry, dynamism and careful study of every detail. Many drawings of the architect served as illustrations for his theoretical works and were not intended to be embodied in real conditions.

The original architectural style of Yakov Chernikhov was based on his fundamental knowledge of ornament and rhythm. In his cycle with the unusual name “Aristography” he experimented a lot with form and space, rotating graphic elements of constructions in different directions and creating bizarre but impeccably accurate ornaments characterized by attractive rhythmic pulsation.

This fantasy work could be attributed to both Constructivism and Suprematism if it were not for a technique unexpected for these styles - the image of several figures of people.

Mediums: cardboard, watercolour, pencil. Location: The Museum of Modern Art, New York (the USA).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: private collection.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The Krasnodar Regional Art Museum named after F. Kovalenko (Russia).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: private collection.

Mediums: paper, ink, gouache. Location: The State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg (Russia).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (Russia).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: private collection.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid (Spain).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The State Tretyakov Gallery (Russia).

Mediums: oil, wood. Location: the Ludwig Museum, Cologne (Germany).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: private collection.

Mediums: wood, cardboard, ink. Location: the private collection of James Butterwick (the UK).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (Russia).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The Vilnius Art Museum (Lithuania).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The State Russian Museum St. Petersburg (Russia).

Mediums: wood, oil, cardboard, zinc. Location: The Tate Modern Gallery, London (the UK).

Материалы: масло, холст. Местонахождение: находится в Музее Стедейлик, Амстердам (Нидерланды).

Location: Nizhny Novgorod Art Museum.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The Ivanovo Art Museum (Russia).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The Museum of Modern Art, New York (the USA).

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: The Rostov Kremlin, Rostov.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Dimensions: 101 x 118 сm. Location: Samara Regional Art Museum.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: Vitebsk Museum of Contemporary Art, Belarus.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: Krasnodar Museum of Art.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Dimensions: 79,4 x 79,4 сm. Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York City.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Dimensions: 53 x 53 сm. Location: Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg.

Mediums: oil, linen canvas. Dimensions: 79,6 x 79,5 сm. Location: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.