The Avant-Gardists in the Time of The Russian Revolution

Did you know that Anna Karenina, the lead character in Russian novelist Loe Tolstoy’s book, alongside the feminist Russian punk rock group Pussy Riot as well as Nikolai Filippove, a Russian pastry chef all had one thing in common? They all wanted change. These Russians dared to transform the prescribed societal ways.  Because with a rejection of the norms comes something new, in sometimes violent circumstances. Find out more in The Avant-Gardists in the Time of The Russian Revolution

Image on left-hand side Kazimir Malevich,The Woodcutter, 1912. Oil on canvas, 76 x 99 Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Ownership recognized by agreement with the estate of Kazimir Malevich in 2008 

Change is never easy; often coming alongside anger, it can be a long process, not a gentle one. As humans, we tend not to like the shifting of the status quo. With rejection also comes acceptance; when the oppressed stand against the oppressors. The often violent move from being rejected to being accepted takes time. Much of the change caused by the mentioned Russians was against a violent oppressive political background and was anything but a gentle journey.

Protest might be an aggressive way of expression but protesting through art gives it a gentler turn. It doesn’t include physical violence but utilising the creative process for change is often easier and more long-term. After all, change has to happen.

If you have read Leo Tolstoy’s novel, Anna Karenina, then you will know that the female protagonist had an extramarital affair. It was considered a Taboo thereby contravening the moral code of the society and bore consequences. Her brother exhibited the same behaviour but didn’t face the same societal wrath.

Have you heard the song “Punk Prayer”? A song protesting Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. This violent protest took place in a Moscow Cathedral and the effect was so intense that members of the rock group Pussy Riot Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich were imprisoned for two years for their performance.

You might not know about how Nikolai Filippove. He was a pastry chef, a wealthy businessman and a patron of arts who contributed to the Russian Revolution by giving accommodations and other kinds of provisions to revolutionary Avant-Garde artists.

So who were these Avant-Garde artists? Well, the Avant-Gardists is the latest book by Sjeng Scheijen that accounts for the history of the Avant-Garde movement which was an art movement led by Russian artists with progressive ideals to transform society. The book details the main players who drove the uprising against societal norms.

Image Thames and Hudson

The Russian Revolution was rich with artists and intellectuals who reimagined society and culture with extraordinary ideals and ushered a flock of insurgents to design an archetype for society. All of this was done through creative pursuits. These works changed, not just Russia but affected the arts from all over the Western world. The impact of this creativity was astounding.

The German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche believed that no artist tolerates reality. Artistic reconstruction of a parallel world desires revolt and rejection of the norms. Rebellion also demands unity. Unity, rebellion and artistic reform became the backdrop of the Avant-Garde movement.

The Russian Revolution began with the dissolution of the Tsarist Empire (a form of absolute monarchy) in October 1917. The downfall of this period created an atmosphere where artists were free to experiment. The Avant-Gardists desired transformation and a new social and cultural order where they could express their revolutionary artistic spirit. They aligned themselves to challenge old conventions and make way for modern movements like Futurism, Constructivism, and Suprematism.

The mutiny saw great artists like Vladimir Tatlin, Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, Olga Rozanova who took it upon themselves to paint the country with their liberal posters, paintings, enigmatic performances and installations. Wassily Kandinsky believed that

‘there is no must in art because art is free‘

Wassily Kandinsky

Improvisation no. 34, Oil on canvas, 120 × 139 (47.2 × 54.7) Wassily Kandinsky

Kazimir Malevich was at the forefront of creating Suprematism, a style in art stamped by geometric shapes. Malevich used to paint religious views and landscapes. He worked on the development of abstract art with Suprematism; a dialogue of shapes and colours where they speak more highly than subject matter or art narration. He created Black Square in 1915 which was the symbol of the movement. 

Black Square (Black Suprematic Square) Kazimir Malevich

He marked the beginning of the new era by declaring, 

‘It is from zero, in zero, that the true movement of being begins‘

Kazimir Malevich

Vladimir Tatlin, an architect, artist and a true advocate of the architectural theory of Constructivism used industrial materials and made installations to give social messages.

“In the squares and in the streets we are placing our work convinced that art must not remain a sanctuary for the idle, a consolation for the weary, and a justification for the lazy”.

Vladimir Tatlin

Tatlin started the construction of Tatlin’s Tower or the Monument to the Third International in 1919. It was intended to challenge the modernism of the Eiffel Tower and would also be inspirational to all future artists. Tatlin’s Tower is still considered the most famous symbol of the Russian avant-garde movement. Tatlin was a talented painter and found inspiration in Pablo Picasso’s work. He also visited Picasso’s studio in 1913.

The Sailor, 1911. Oil on canvas, 71.5 x 71.5 (28.1 x 28.1) Vladimir Tatlin.

In his famous self-portrait, “The Sailor”, Tatlin experimented with different paint textures giving it a look of graphic art. For this masterpiece, he studied the daily life and the appearances of sailors of the southern port of Odessa.

European art deeply influenced the Avant Garde movement as artists constantly sought inspiration to create masterpieces keeping in mind the turbulent Russian times and the greater purpose. They also used their talent for bold social commentary and criticizing the government on subjects like injustice and inequality. With their increasing public popularity, the pressure from the newly formed Soviet Union also increased. The government of the day were not fans.

In his book, Scheijen tells the story of the changes in the political landscape that occurred due to the artistic revolt. Scheijen’s original research, zestful writing and command of the subject edifies the reader with events such as torture during Stalin’s time, brutal suppression and illegal imprisonments.

The writing gives a chance to experience the lives of these artists through their memories and existing achieves with excerpts from diaries and correspondence reflecting the vigour of these extraordinary individuals waging a war against an unbeatable establishment.  

The pages follow the gripping lives and struggles of the lead characters of the Avant-Garde movement in their journey to alter the history of art. The illustrations in the book help the reader to imagine how art was a crucial aspect of the notorious movement. The art created stood the test of time and still inspires artists and creators with their deviant nature. 

Russian artists, thinkers and philosophers are still famous all over the world, for their creativity, ideals and vigour to stand against regimes to create new systems. The Avant-Garde movement created a breakthrough in literature, architecture, photography, theatre and film. The artists defied the guiding rule of the norms and conceived ideas for freedom in art rejecting age-old academic traditions and changing the history of art for eternity.

 Scheijen, a Dutch author is an expert on Russian art and has also served as the ex-cultural attaché to the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Moscow. The Avant- Gardists was released on 16 May 2024. You can find the book on thamesandhudson.com.

If you enjoyed reading The Avant-Gardists in the Time of The Russian Revolution, be sure to read London Craft Week: Fell in Love With the Art of Craftsmanship here.

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