Kazimir Malevich’s Nationality
Kazimir Malevich’s nationality is a subject of ongoing debate, reflecting the complex historical context of his birthplace and the cultural influences he experienced. Here’s a breakdown of his background and how it might have influenced his work: Background and Nationality Influence on His Works Malevich’s cultural background and the geopolitical context of his time likely influenced his artistic philosophy and style, though not directly in terms of national themes. His work is more about abstract concepts than specific cultural or national motifs. In summary, while Malevich’s nationality is complex and debated, his artistic contributions were more about pioneering abstract art movements than reflecting specific national identities. His work remains a…
Kandinsky Before Abstraction: The Rider and the Landscape
Tracing the Path to a Visual Language of the Soul Before Wassily Kandinsky stripped away the figure, before the symphonies of line and color, there was a rider — mid-gallop, merging with the landscape. Painted in 1909, Picture with a Riding Archer and Landscape is not yet abstract, but abstraction is already whispering through its brushwork. Why the Rider Matters Kandinsky saw music in color and spirituality in shape. In this painting, we witness the transitional moment: figuration dissolving into movement. The rider doesn’t dominate the scene — he becomes it. Forms blur, outlines soften, emotion overtakes narrative. A Glimpse into the Turning Point This work is critical for collectors…
Understanding Suprematism: Malevich’s Radical Vision
A short analysis: Why a Black Square Changed the Course of Art History In 1915, Kazimir Malevich exhibited a black square on a white canvas and declared: “I have transformed myself in the zero of form.” It was more than provocation — it was the birth of Suprematism, a movement that shattered centuries of representational art and set the stage for abstraction as we know it. What Is Suprematism? Suprematism is not just an aesthetic; it’s a philosophy. Malevich sought to liberate art from the burden of objects, representation, and narrative. His compositions — often made of geometric forms in pure color — were visual meditations on feeling, not function.…
How to Verify the Provenance of Russian Art
Due Diligence in a Market Rich with History—and Complexity The Russian art market is one of the most intriguing—and most carefully scrutinized—in the world. With masterpieces from artists like Malevich, Kandinsky, and Kljun commanding millions, provenance is not just a formality: it’s a necessity. So, how do seasoned collectors verify that a work is the real thing? 1. Start with Documentation, Not Assumptions A serious seller provides a chain of ownership. This includes previous auction records, gallery sales, exhibition catalogs, and references in scholarly publications. If the paperwork starts after 1990, be cautious—many fakes emerged during the Soviet art “rediscovery” wave. 2. Check for Expert Attributions and Catalogues Raisonnés Reputable…
Leningrad School of Painting
On our websites you will find many paintings you may recognize as works of art inspired by The Leningrad School of Painting (Russian: Ленинградская школа живописи). This refers to a group of Soviet painters, who from 1930 to 1950 founded in Leningrad the Reformed Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, unified by the Leningrad Union of Soviet artists. The history of the Leningrad School covers the period from early 1930 to early 1990s. It’s appearance was the result of the conflict resolution and reflect predominant trends in the development of Soviet art and artisanship at the turn of the 1920-1930s. It was accelerated in April 1932 by political offices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party…
Why is Wassily Kandinsky “The Rider” (1909) an important work?
Why is Wassily Kandinsky “The Rider” (1909) an important work? Around 1910, Kandinsky’s artistic style began to shift significantly towards abstraction. In 1910, he completed his first truly abstract watercolor, marking a pivotal moment in his career. This period also saw the publication of his influential book “Concerning the Spiritual in Art” in 1910, where he explored the spiritual dimensions of art and its connection to music. Kandinsky’s notable works from this era include “Composition I” (1910), which was unfortunately destroyed during World War II. His paintings increasingly emphasized emotion through color and form, moving away from traditional representation. In 1911, he co-founded the influential group Der Blaue Reiter, further…
Russian Painters
Moskow School of Painting The traditional Russian painting is one of the world’s most important schools of thought. Through generations, artists and artists’ ideas of teachers have been passed on to students. To this day, Russia produces outstanding works in technical perfection and with love for the subject. This generally acknowledged high quality of traditional Russian painting is all the more amazing considering the fact that icons were created exclusively in this country for more than 800 years. With the opening to the west at the time of Peter the Great, the timid transition from egg-tempered wood on wood to the oil painting on canvas took place in the first foremost…
