Lazar Markovich Lissitzky, later known as El Lissitzky, produced one of his final works in 1941 while on his deathbed, creating a Soviet propaganda poster that urged citizens to construct tanks to repel Nazi Germany. His career spanned multiple continents and disciplines, integrating painting, typography, and architectural engineering throughout the shifting landscape of the early twentieth century.
Formative Years and Education
Born in 1890 in Pochinok, Russia, Lissitzky spent his early youth in Vitebsk before moving to Smolensk. He received initial artistic instruction from Yury Pen in 1903. After being rejected from the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, he relocated to Germany in 1909 to study architectural engineering at the Darmstadt Polytechnic Institute. He graduated cum laude in 1914, having supplemented his income during his studies by completing examination projects for other students and working as a bricklayer.
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Lissitzky maintained a deep interest in Jewish culture, particularly following the abolition of restrictions on Hebrew lettering in print after the Russian Revolution. In 1916, he conducted an ethnographic expedition through Belarusian towns alongside Issachar Ber Ryback to document Jewish antiquities. He was notably influenced by the interior murals of the Mogilev synagogue, which he later compared to Roman basilicas in a 1923 article for the journal Rimon-Milgroim. During his time in Kiev starting in 1917, he focused extensively on Yiddish book design to foster a secular Jewish cultural identity.
Avant-Garde Contributions
As a central figure in the avant-garde movement, Lissitzky collaborated with Kazimir Malevich to develop Suprematism and lead the group UNOVIS. He created his own variant of the movement titled Proun, which functioned as a bridge between painting and architecture. His work expanded significantly after his move to the Weimar Republic in 1921, where he gained international recognition for his innovative exhibition designs, typography, and photomontage techniques.
Professional Legacy
Lissitzky held various teaching positions throughout his life, having begun his career as an educator at the age of 15. In addition to his creative pursuits, he worked for the architectural firms of Boris Velikovsky and Roman Klein, the latter of whom assigned him to help arrange the Egyptian Department at the Pushkin Museum. He died in Moscow in 1941 and is buried at the Donskoe cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1890, Pochinok, Russian Empire
- Died: 1941, Moscow, Soviet Union
- Education: Riga Technical University; Technical University of Darmstadt
- Primary Movements: Suprematism, Constructivism
- Notable Series: Proun
- Burial Site: Donskoe cemetery
Questions readers ask
What subjects did El Lissitzky teach?
Lissitzky worked as a teacher for most of his life across various institutions and media, having started his first tutoring positions at age 15.
Which major art movements is he associated with?
He was an important figure in the avant-garde, specifically contributing to Suprematism and Constructivism.
Achievements
- Educated at Riga Technical University and Technical University of Darmstadt
- Worked as painter, architect and graphic designer