The art of Russia of the 20th century and its types

"Pure" art, which proclaims values that do not depend on public and historical problems and trends, is a beautiful, but unreal phenomenon.

It is impossible to create in isolation from everyday life, not paying attention to the prevailing ideas in society - formal and informal. The art of Russia of the 20th century was influenced by powerful changes in the social system, unknown to any other country.

The beginning of the century, the search for new ideas

100 years of XX century for the whole of civilization were an era of unprecedented turmoil. By the end of the 20th century, scientific and technological progress had squeezed time and space for the entire planet, social conflicts in a limited region had escalated into shocks of a planetary scale. The culture and art of Russia of the 20th century, like all the public activities of Europe and America, has a temporary attachment to the most important events of modern history.

The magic of numbers that signify the beginning of a new century always generates the expectation of change, the hope of a new, happy time. The nineteenth century, which created world fame for Russian culture, was a thing of the past, leaving traditions that could not disappear overnight.

"World of Art" - the so-called association of artists that emerged in 1898 and existed intermittently until 1924, without which it is impossible to imagine fine art in the first quarter of the 20th century in Russia. The "miriskusstnik" did not have one, the general style worked out - painters, graphic artists, sculptors went their separate ways, having the consent in views on the aims of art and its role in society. Many features of this view expressed the genius of Mikhail Vrubel. Formal core, the basis of the unification were LS Bakst, MV Dobuzhinsky, EE Lansere, AP Ostroumova-Lebedeva, KA Somov. At different times, Ya. Bilibin, A. Ya. Golovin, IE Grabar, KA Korovin, BM Kustodiev, NK Roerich, VA Serov, and other masters took part in it.

All of them recognized the primacy of professionalism in art, the enormous role of creative freedom and independence of the artist from public dogmas, while not denying the value of art in human life, protesting against the inertness of academicism on the one hand and the excessive politicization of painting by the Wanderers on the other. Criticized by the proponents of traditions, the "World of Art" could not fit into the turbulent process of the birth of "proletarian" painting, but had a huge impact on all the fine art of the 20th century in Russia - both those who worked in the USSR and those who found themselves in Emigration.

Modern

The last decades of the nineteenth century were the period of the emergence of a new style, which left a mark on the work of masters of fine art and architecture. It had its own peculiarities in certain regions of Europe, where it was even called in different ways. In Belgium and France, the name "Art Nouveau" was fixed, in Germany - "Art Nouveau", in Austria - "Secession". There are other names associated with the most famous artists of this style or firms producing such furniture, jewelry and other items: the style of the mush, the style of Guimard - in France, the liberti in Italy, the USA - the style of tiffany, etc. The Art of Russia 20th century, architecture in particular, know it as a modernist style.

Modern became after a long period of stylistic timelessness one of the most expressive and visually formal artistic trends. Its inherent floral, flowing character of lines of rich decor combined with geometrically simple and expressive forms of large volumes attracted the freshness and novelty of artists and architects.

Fedor Osipovich Shekhtel (1859-1926) - the star of Russian architectural modernism. His talent attached national features to a cosmopolitan style, Shekhtel's masterpieces - the Yaroslavsky railway station, Ryabushinsky's mansion - are the creations of the Russian architect, in general, and in small things.

The pre-revolutionary avant-garde

The process of searching for new forms of art, and more - its new essence - was relevant for the art of all Europe and America. The art of Russia of the 20th century contains several truly revolutionary periods, when the work of several reformers pointed to new trends in the development of artistic thought. One of the most striking and impressive was the inter-revolutionary period from 1905 to 1917. Features of avant-garde art in Russia were caused by the crisis of Russian public life after the tragedies of the Russo-Japanese War and the 1905 revolution.

The numerous avant-garde currents and creative associations that arose at that time had similar generative causes and similar goals of artistic search. Futurists and cubo-futurists, Knave of Diamonds and Blue Rose, who had a powerful influence on the main 20th century art in Russia, Malevich's Kandinsky and Suprematism in various ways sought new worlds, expressed the crisis of the old art that had lost touch with reality, preceded the advent of the epoch of global shocks .

Among the new ideas born of avant-garde artists was the idea of a synthesis of the arts. Theatrical art of Russia of the 20th century contains such pages as the famous play - the manifesto of the new art "Victory over the Sun" (1913). It was the result of the general creativity of the futurist poets A. Kruchenykh, M. Matyushin, V. Khlebnikov, and Kazimir Malevich performed the decoration.

Enriched by their search for art of Russia of the 20th century, artists P. Konchalovsky, K. Petrov-Vodkin, I. Mashkov, N. Goncharova, Marc Chagall became the authors of the canvases that received world recognition. And this recognition began in the tenth years of the twentieth century, in the era of the birth of avant-garde painting of modern history.

Formation of Soviet art

After the October Revolution, Russia was given the opportunity to open new horizons to the whole world in public life, including art. And at first conditions were created, when the value of each gifted person grew immeasurably, generators of new creative ideas came to the fore.

How does the history of art treat that time? 20th century, Russia, stormy twenties - this is an unprecedentedly active artistic life of numerous creative associations, among which are:

- UNOVIS - "Approvers of the New Art" (Malevich, Chagall, Lisitsky, Leporskaya, Sterligov). Based on the basis of the art school of Vitebsk, this association was an apologist for the artistic avant-garde, offering to search for art new themes and forms.

- "Four Arts" - the current in the mainstream of the "World of Art" The main goal is to show the enormous expressive possibilities of architecture, sculpture, graphics and painting. The need for high professionalism and creative freedom was declared. Prominent representatives: the architect A. V. Shchusev, the graphic artist VA Favorsky, the sculptor V. I. Mukhin, the painters KS Petrov-Vodkin, A. P. Ostroumov-Lebedeva, and others.

- "OST", "Society of artists-easel". It considered the main thing to show the signs of the onset of a new peaceful life, the construction of a modern young country with means of advanced expressive, but simple and clear stylistics. Leaders: D. Shternberg, A. Deineka, Yu. Pimenov, P. Williams.

- "Circle of Artists" (Leningrad). Following the official course, the development of the "style of the era." Active members of the group: A. Samokhvalov, A. Pakhomov, V. Pakulin.

- AHRR - "Association of Artists of Revolutionary Russia" - an association that became the foundation of the Union of Artists of the USSR, subsequently created, an active conductor of the ideological direction of the artistic process, an instrument of party propaganda, heirs of the Wanderers. At the head were I. I. Brodsky, AM Gerasimov, MB Grekov, B. V. Ioganson.

Constructivism

In the programs of the most prestigious educational institutions preparing architects, there is invariably a study of the theme "Russian constructivism - architectural avant-garde of the 1920s". It has great significance for the understanding of the building art, the ideas proclaimed by the leaders of that direction are very actual for any time. The surviving buildings of Konstantin Melnikov (the house of the architect in Krivoarbatsky Lane, the Rusakov Club on Stromynka, the garage on Novoryazanskaya Street, etc.), the Vesnin brothers, Moisei Ginzburg (the House of the People's Commissar on Novinsky Boulevard) and other stars of Russian architectural work are the gold fund of Russian architecture.

Functionalism, the rejection of unnecessary decorations, the aesthetics of the construction of the building, the harmony of the created habitat - these ideas have become the basis for solving new tasks posed to young architects, artists and specialists of the area, which became known as industrial design. They had to build a mass dwelling for new cities, workers' clubs for the all-round development of the individual, create objects for labor and recreation for the new person. Surprising achievements of the avant-garde of the twenties can not be ignored by studying the art of Russia of the 20th century. The architecture of Europe and America of all subsequent time is largely based on them. It is sad that these progressive ideas were least demanded in their homeland, and the greatest achievement of Soviet architecture is considered by many as "Stalin's Empire."

The Art of the Age of Totalitarianism

In 1932, the Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU (B.) On the work of creative associations was issued. The turbulent era of various currents and trends ended under the influence of the state machine, which gained power, controlled by an ideological apparatus in which sole authority was consolidated. For many years the art of Russia of the 20th century, like much in the life of the country, began to depend on the opinion of one person - Joseph Stalin.

Creative unions have become a means of subordinating artistic thought to unified ideological standards. There came the era of socialist realism in painting. Gradually, any deviations from the official course began to be declared criminal, the dissenters fell under real repression. Accusations of departing from the party line have become a method of solving creative discussions. The progressiveness of this is very doubtful. How would the Russian theatrical art of the 20th century develop, for example, if the great reformer of the scene Vsevolod Meyerhold had not fallen a victim of repression?

The nature of artistic talent is complex and inexplicable. The images of the leaders were embodied with great skill and sincere feeling. No cruel repression could prevent the emergence of truly talented artists, for whom the main thing was self-expression, regardless of the ideological framework.

In architecture, it was time for the "Stalin Empire". The search for avant-gardists has replaced the return to the proven canons. The power of communist ideology was embodied in spectacular examples of recycled neoclassicism - Stalin's "skyscrapers".

Art of the war period

In the history of our country there is a time that has become the greatest tragedy and stage of an unprecedented spiritual upsurge. The art of Russia of the 20th and 21st centuries was one of the main themes that allowed expressing the greatness of the Russian folk character, the depth of feelings that can be possessed by an individual and huge masses during historical upheavals.

The Great Patriotic War from the first days found expression in the visual images of amazing power. Poster I. Toidze "Motherland Calls!" Raised the protection of the country better than any commanders, and Deineki's "Defense of Sevastopol" shakes any person, regardless of the ideas that he shares. Just as impressive is the Seventh Symphony by Dmitry Shostakovich, and the musical art of Russia of the 20th century, no less than other forms of creativity, paid tribute to the theme of the war against fascism.

Thaw

After the Great Victory, Stalin's death (March 1953) and the 20th Congress of the CPSU, which raised the issue of exposing the cult of personality, became the next most powerful historical factor of influence on public life in the USSR. For a while, for artists, as well as for the whole society, there was a spark of freedom of creativity and new ideas. The generation of the "sixties" is a very special phenomenon, it left a memory of itself as a short breath of fresh air made before plunging again for decades into a swamp of measured, painted, regulated existence.

The first experiments of the artistic avant-garde of the "second wave" - the works of E. Belyutin, J. Sooster, V. Yankilevsky, B. Zhutovsky, etc. - at the exhibition timed to the 30th anniversary of the Moscow branch of the Union of Artists, were severely condemned personally by the new leader of the country H Khrushchev. The party again began to explain to the people what kind of art it needed, and artists - how to write.

Architecture was ordered to deal with excesses, which was rightly explained by the economic difficulties of the post-war period, the time of mass housing construction, the time of the Khrushchevites, which somewhat removed the acuteness of the housing issue, but disfigured the appearance of many cities.

The art of "developed socialism"

In many ways, the art of Russia in the second half of the 20th century in many respects represents the history of confrontation between the artistic personality and the dominant ideology. But even in an atmosphere of ideological regulation of each piece of spiritual space, many artists have found ways to slightly modify the prescribed method of socialist realism.

So, the real example for the young were masters, who formed their convictions in the twenties: N. Romadin, M. Saryan, A. Plastov and others. The painting of the former member of the artistic association "OST" Yu. Pimenov's "Wedding on Tomorrow's Street", written in 1962, became a symbol of the hopes of the society for renewal.

Another bright phenomenon in Soviet painting of that time was the formation of a "severe style." This term denoted the work of G. Korzhov, P. Ossovsky, the Smolin brothers, P. Nikonov, and others. In their paintings written in different genres (everyday, historical), a hero appeared who did not need instructions, engaged in an understandable and necessary work. He was portrayed without unnecessary details and coloristic delights, capaciously and expressively.

Of particular importance is the work of such a master as Viktor Popkov. The civil sound of his canvases contains an all-humanitarian, almost religious message, rare for Soviet art, and the picturesque manner has roots of the times of the Italian Renaissance.

Nonconformity

The official dominance of "socialist realism" forced informal artists to seek their way to the viewer or resort to emigration. M. Shemyakin, I. Kabakov, O. Rabin, E. Neizvestny and many others left. They were artists of the 20th century of Russia who were carriers of spiritual values born of the vanguard of the beginning of the century, and returned to their homeland after the collapse of communist ideology.

And at the time of its domination, there was an internal emigration that gave rise to the popular motif of a crazy, eternally drunken artist, an inhabitant of psychosheses, persecuted by the authorities and the leadership of creative unions, but highly valued by independent Western experts. A typical bearer of this image was A. Zverev - a legendary personality for Moscow of the era of developed socialism.

Polystylistics and pluralism

Freed from the Soviet dictatorship of the Soviet era, fine art of the 20th century in Russia entered the world process as its inseparable part, possessing common properties and tendencies. Many forms of creativity, habitual for the West for a long time, were quickly mastered by domestic artists. The words "performance", "video installation", etc. became customary in our speech, and among the most significant contemporary masters of world renown are artists with diametrical views: Z. Tsereteli, A. Shilov, T. Nazarenko , M. Kishev, A. Burganov and many others.

The turbulent, unpredictable modern history of the country, which occupies the sixth part of the earth's land, looks into its mirror - the art of Russia of the 20th century - and is reflected in it by thousands of unforgettable images ...