The Context of Maria Knebel’s Artistic Fate: Teachers and Students

Abstract

The article reveals the main features of M.O. Knebel’ artistic periods. She was an outstanding director and theatre teacher of the 20th century. In May 2018, it was 120 years since her birth. This study applies historical-cultural, sociocultural, and art-historical methods. On the basis of systematization and generalization of her biographical information, as well as analysis of her creative way, the article traces the transformation of M.O. Knebel from a supporting actress to the director and theater teacher. The study is relevant, because M.O. Knebel is underestimated as a person who harmoniously combined acting, directing and pedagogical intentions. There is much attention paid to the main paradox of M.O. Knebel’s creative career, which consists in understanding that if she had not had the episodic actress’ experience she would not have come to the directing and pedagogical way. All M.O. Knebel’s creative achievements arose from her not quite successful acting career. Therefore, the study proves the connection between the experience of M.O. Knebel as an actress of the second roles in the Moscow Academic Art Theater and the successful implementation of her directing and pedagogical aspirations. To identify the hidden springs of M.O. Knebel’s activity, much attention is paid to the context of her work: her circle is analyzed — the teachers, colleagues, students. The author emphasizes that M.O. Knebel was a kind of link between theatrical generations. Being a propagandist of the great Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko’s teachings and continuing the traditions of her teachers, she raised a bunch of outstanding directors. Thus, the personality of M.O. Knebel, presented in a wide context, is included, in turn, into the contextual circle for generalization of new directors and actors’ creative work. The article shows the result of the study, which refutes the idea of secondary cultural signifi cance of the actors who did not become famous and did not receive outstanding recognition, but crystallized into great teachers and directors who even established a creative school.