The Fire-Bird of the Russian Avant-Garde

Fascinating online lecture from the York Festival of Ideas on the Russian 20th century artist Natalia Goncharova.

Elena Kashina from the Centre of Lifelong Learning, University of York took us through the artists career via a series of paintings showing how she forged a ground-breaking style based on tradition and innovation, was the conduit of the Russian avant-garde to the rest of the west and influenced developments in the performing arts in the 20th century.

I had really enjoyed the Goncharova exhibition at Tate Modern a few years ago so it was lovely to revisit these pictures and to have the various art groups she started explained in more detailed. I loved the idea of the Donkey’s Tail group painted their faces and advertised where they were going to be to attract crowds and the press.

I liked the section on her work for the Ballet Russe and the artistic family she joined there as I have been doing some research on them recently.

 

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