Russian Art - Research Paper Example

This Byzantine artistic practice of painting saints and biblical scenes was largely dictated and influenced by church canons. The late 19th century saw the shift to Russia’s version of the Arts and Crafts movement that mostly relied on traditional Russian applied arts. It was during this era that Style Moderne or Art Nouveau was predominantly embraced by Russian artists like Mikhail Vrubel (Charlton 23). The early 20th century Russia was a time of political upheaval which consequently fueled Russia’s artistic growth.

It was during this era that Russian Avante-Garde movement flourished. It is characterized by angular shapes, vibrant colors, and representative of the urban landscape and lifestyle that effectively replaced the rural scenes that were the major subjects of the previous era. Abstract art were represented through genres of Futurism, Rayonism, and Suprematism. Belarusian Marc Chagall, Kasimir Malevich, and Mikhail Larionov were some of the artists that defined this movement. Political upheavals that characterized most of the 1920s up to the 1930s played a role in harnessing the creativity of free-thinking artists as their works were used for propaganda materials, posters, sculptures, and public spaces.

It was the ‘propaganda poster’ movement wherein artistic expressions where predominantly aligned with political ideologies. By the late 20th century, when freedom is achieved and a new millennium is dawning, artistic constrictions pave the way for bold, experimental artistic expression (Charlton 23-24). Highlighting Byzantine Art movement of Russia is an interesting topic because it was in this country that this artistic movement is most enduring. Unlike other European countries, Russia’s artistic movement did not undergo a Romanesque or a Gothic phase.

It did not even experience any comprehensive renaissance. Byzantine art endured and virtually remained unchanged despite the wars,