This manifesto marked an important shift in art from
RUSSIAN AVANT-GARDE 1910 - 1930 figuration to abstraction. His concept of suprematism
sought to develop a form of expression that moved as far
How did the avant-garde (abstraction) start? as possible from the world of natural forms (objectivity)
The Russian avant-garde movement was inspired by and subject matter in order to access the 'supremacy of
previous art movements and technological pure feeling'. It used radical abstraction and basic
developments. Since the 18th century eastern europe geometric shapes (circle, square, line) to express pure
had close cultural ties with western europe, especially emotion. The depicted forms were seen as alive in
with artists in Paris. Popular art collectors were Sergei themselves, and the painterly surface was a
Shchukin, who collected French impressionist and ‘The Knife Grinder’ ‘Subject from a Dyer’s Shop’ self-contained universe. Oftentimes this art style was
post-impressionist art, and Ivan Morozov, who collected Kazimir Malevich 1913 Lyubov Popova 1914 used for constructivist purposes (propaganda), using
French avant-garde art (posted in ‘Mir iskusstva’ industrial assemblage of materials.
Rayonism (early abstraction)
journal). Photography in western europe brought along
Rayonism was a short-lived movement. It was one of the
new technologies, Impressionism increased the focus on
avant-garde movements that proliferated in Moscow and
the formal qualities of painting, Cubism showed different
St. Petersburg in the years of 1910-1920. The movement
angles and perspectives and Futurism showed
was inspired by the discovery of X-rays and radioactivity,
movement of motion. Because of these factors
which changed the perception of the hardness and
abstraction started to appear.
stability of the objective world. Rayonism was the
Cubo-Futurism invention of Cubo-Futurist Michel Larionov and his
Cubo-futurism was the main school of painting and partner Natalia Goncharova, who wrote the Rayonist
sculpture within the Russian Futuristic art movement. It manifesto in 1912. In the manifesto they spoke of
was a mixture of Italian Futurism and French analytical paintings free from realistic forms, existing and ‘Suprematist composition’ ‘Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge’
cubism, which led to a distinct Russian style that blended developing itself only according to its own pictorial laws. Kazimir Malevich 1915 El Lissitzky 1920
features of the two European movements: fragmented The rayonists wanted to create art that was beyond
forms fused with the representation of movement. The abstraction. They focussed on the rays of sunlight
reflecting from objects, and how these rays moved. It Kazimir Malevitsj
style was characterized by the breaking down of forms, Kazimir Malevitsj was a painter and one of the most
the fusion of various spatial planes and the contrasts of was mostly based on the effect of light on landscape and
cityscapes. important members of the Russian Avant-Garde. He
color and texture. Cubo-futurism was a reaction to the started out with impressionistic and symbolic styles, but
industrialization and modernization of the west, while later turned to abstraction. He combined geometric
Russia fell behind on this urbanization. Society was deconstruction with lyric color images, which eventually
deeply divided by social classes, economic recession led to his futuristic figuration. He used a lot of cylinders
and poor quality of life. Cubo-futurists saw the booming and cone shapes. Malevich emphasized on the direct
‘Red Rayonism’
'Machine Age' of everyday life of the west and felt Mikhail Larionov 1913 expression of feelings beyond the limits of the material
inspired by its dynamism, beauty and energy. This led to world.
artists turning to abstraction, deconstructing organic
shapes and using harsh lines and planes.
Cubo-Futurism started as an experimental improv poetry
style, and soon became the style in which Ukrainian and
Russian post-revolutionary avant-garde artists worked. Suprematism
Cubo-futuristic ideas were based on the idea of Suprematism was an abstract art movement founded in
collective renewal and deconstruction, in which artists Russia during the First World War. It was founded by
were free to create their own aesthetic consciousness Melvich in 1916, when he wrote the manifesto 'From
through reinterpretation of artistic and social tradition. Cubism and Futurism to Suprematism: The new painterly
This in itself was presented as a concept of revolution Realism'.
‘Winter landscape’ 1909 ‘Morning in the Village
and collective action.
after a Snowstorm’ 1913
, DE STIJL 1917 - 1932 Piet Mondriaan
Mondriaan started out as a figurative, realistic painter
How did the De Stijl start? within the ‘Haagse school’. He later turned to symbolism,
In 1914 WWI started. While the Netherlands was neutral, cubism and finally abstract art. He changed his artistic
it still faced problems such as famine, poverty and a high direction from figurative painting to an increasingly
increase of foreign refugees. Because of the devastation abstract style until his artist's vocabulary was reduced to
and insecurity caused by the war, there came a desire simple geometric forms. His intent was to express pure
for harmony and structure. De Stijl was formed as a reality (form & space), not particular feelings. He was
response to this devastation, with the members seeking part of the Theosophical movement, which adapted
a means of expressing a sense of order and harmony in terms of masculine (vertical lines = active) & feminine
‘Café l’Aubette’ ‘Red-Blue chair’
the new society that emerged in the wake of the war. De Doesburg, Taeuber, Arp 1928 Gerrit Rietveld 1919 (horizontal lines = passive). In his work he created
Stijl was a Dutch artist group of painters, architects and balance by putting together opposite elements (primary
sculptors founded in 1917 by Theo van Doesburg and Developments: De Stijl colors, horizontal & vertical lines and shapes). By doing
was named after the 1917 magazine 'De Stijl'. De Stijl Although De Stijl had a common objective of structural this he wanted to give the viewer 'balance to their soul'.
was also formed as a counter movement against the and geometrical shapes, there were some In his earlier work, the geometrical lines did not
artistic movement ‘Amsterdamse School’, which focused disagreements within the group. When Theo van transcend the frame, but he would leave a couple
more on playing with color, bricks and extensive Doesburg introduced the diagonal in his paintings centimeters blank on the edge of the canvas. Later he
ornamentation. De Stijl was the opposite of this, Mondriaan thought it was not in line with the philosophy would start extending the lines through the canvas,
embodying minimalism and functionality. of the group, his opinion being that the lines can only be representing a larger 2-dimensional space, of which the
vertical or horizontal. Furthermore Mondriaan was canvas represents only a small part of it.
What were the characteristics of De Stijl? firstmost a painter, while Rietveld and Doesburg also
Members of De Stijl called their art 'de nieuwe beelding' worked with architecture. They wanted to integrate their Mondriaan had a lasting influence on 20th century art,
or Neo-plasticism. Neo-plasticism is an avant-garde art into the whole of society, as an encompassing style. not only influencing major abstract painting movements
theory that arose in 1917 and became widely used by These disagreements made Mondriaan decide to leave (color field painting, abstract expressionism and
members of De Stijl, especially Mondriaan. It focused on the group. A few years later Doesburg dies, and with it minimalism) but also influencing fields of design,
using the most basic elements of painting; line, color and De Stijl comes to an end. The members keep creating architecture and fashion.
form - to convey universal and absolute truths. (Neo = art inspired by the group’s style, but also go their own
new. Plasticism = use of shape and form) They ways. Because of the Nazi regime (and their hatred for
advocated pure abstraction and universality by reducing abstract art) Mondriaan moves to New York and creates
the essentials of form and color. They simplified visual his final paintings. Inspired by jazz music and the 'hustle
compositions to vertical and horizontal, using only black, and bustle' of New York, his paintings become more
white and primary colors. Members of De Stijl believed rhythmic and 'fun'.
that Neo-plasticism should merge painting, architecture
and design, to create an ordered and harmonious
society. They wanted to spread the art style to daily life,
and eventually the whole world. Beyond painting, this ‘Blossoming Apple Tree’ 1912 ‘Composition in Color A’ 1917
way of organizing the visual should envelop the whole
space. It should align the viewer's soul with a more
universal experience.
→ Primary colors & black/white
→ Vertical and horizontal lines
→ Purpose of structure & harmony ’Neoplastic Composition’ 1921 ‘Victory Boogie Woogie’ 1944
