Kazimir Malevich’s Studio in the Second State Free Art Studios (Moscow, 1918–1919)

Abstract

This study publishes the results yielded when examining archival materials (RGALI archive and MArhI Museum) containing authentic students (apprentices) lists of the Free State Art Studios. These unique artistic institutions were founded in 1918 in Moscow following the avant-garde reform of specialised education. This article publishes three interconnected lists of Moscow students (apprentices) of K. S. Malevich in the Second Free State Art Studios. The authors compare the lists with each other. With reference to them, the article examines the history of the formation of the “individual” workshop of the outstanding avant-garde artist. The pedagogical activity was an integral part of Malevich’s artistic biography, but so far only the relatively late stages of his teaching in Vitebsk and Petrograd (Leningrad) have been studied. The short but eventful Moscow stage (November 1918 — October 1919), which saw the formation of the principles of Malevich’s pedagogy, has not been studied previously yet. The authors comment on the main events of the two training seasons of the life of the “individual” workshop until the Headmaster’s departure to Vitebsk (October 1919). Additionally, the authors describe the personalities of the Moscow apprentices, illustrating the events behind their appearance in Malevich’s orbit. The article contains data on the artistic biographies of painters, sculptors, architects, and designers who are famous nowadays, i.e. I. Zavyalov, G. Klutsis, Z. Komissarenko, G. Krutikov, I. Kudryashov, I. Meerzon, A.-Ya. Minchin, T. Shapiro, etc. Also, nearly forgotten authors grouped around Malevich too, and to a considerable extent, they determined the general cultural background of avant-garde art. The data published help expand the idea about Malevich’s school and the originality of his workshop in Moscow, explaining the specific forms and context of the interaction among artists. Many of Malevich’s Moscow apprentices themselves became organisers of Free State Art Studios in the regions.