Russian modernism: cross-currents of German and Russian art, 1907-1917

Abstract

Russian Modernism is dedicated to the radical modernist movements in Russian and German art during the early years of the 20th century. Their development was parallel and often intertwined. Artists such as Vasily Kandinsky or Alexej von Jawlensky are claimed by the Germans but remain Russian artists for the Russians. The Burluk brothers, who became celebrities of the Russian radical art scene, participated in the first exhibition of the Blauer Reiter. Russian artists travelled to Germany and lived there, while their German counterparts were aware of what was shown in Moscow exhibition halls. The diverse art movement expressionism was formed in Germany at the beginning of the 1910s and was given the name by the critic Herwarth Walden. Members of groups such as Die Brucke and the Blauer Reiter were initially influenced by the French Fauves movement and their Russian contemporaries also tried to find new artistic truth in Paris, 'la Ville Lumiere'. However, both in Germany and Russia the new French influence underwent radical transformation. Beautifully illustrated and designed, this book provides an insight into the work of Russian and German artists in the early years of the 20th century.