The Central Bank of Transnistria minted a silver coin in 2001 to honor Mikhail Larionov, a pivotal figure in the development of early abstract art. Emerging from the Russian Empire, he moved through several avant-garde movements before establishing his international presence as a versatile designer and collaborator in the prominent circles of the European stage.
Early Education and Influences
Born in 1881 in Tiraspol, Larionov entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in 1898. Studying under Valentin Serov and Isaac Levitan, he faced academic friction, undergoing three suspensions for his radical perspectives. During this period, he met Natalia Goncharova, who became his lifelong creative partner. His early output in 1902 reflected Impressionism, but his 1906 visit to Paris encouraged a shift toward Post-Impressionism and Neo-primitivism, the latter inspired by traditional Russian sign painting.
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Larionov acted as a catalyst for Moscow's artistic activity. He organized the 1908 Golden Fleece exhibition, showcasing international figures like Matisse, Braque, and Van Gogh. He served as a founding member for the Knave of Diamonds group, operating from 1909 to 1917, and the more radical Donkey's Tail, active between 1912 and 1914. His influence extended to contemporaries including Chagall, Tatlin, and Malevich, though his relationship with Tatlin soured in 1912 due to concerns over Larionov's authority.
Rayonism and Performance
In 1913, Larionov and Goncharova pioneered Rayonism, a stylistic movement recognized as the first near-abstract approach in Russia. His work during these years expanded beyond canvas; he engaged in public performance art, directing participants to wear eccentric attire and face paint. He also explored cinema, contributing to the 1914 experimental film Drama in the Futurists' Cabaret No. 13. By 1911, he held his first one-day solo show in Moscow.
Life in Exile
After departing Russia in 1915, Larionov settled in France, eventually acquiring citizenship. He spent his later decades collaborating with Sergei Diaghilev on various productions for the Ballets Russes, working as a scenographer, costume designer, and illustrator. He resided in Paris and Lausanne, continuing his design work until his death in 1964 in the suburb of Fontenay-aux-Roses. He remains interred at the Cimetière parisien d'Ivry.
Fast facts
- Born: 1881, Tiraspol
- Died: 1964, Fontenay-aux-Roses
- Education: Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
- Key Movements: Neo-impressionism, Rayonism
- Citizenship: Russian Empire, France
- Burial Site: Cimetière parisien d'Ivry
- Record Auction Price: 2,200,000 British pounds
Questions readers ask
What was Rayonism?
Invented by Larionov and Goncharova in 1913, it was a movement that created near-abstract art in Russia.
Which artistic groups did he help found?
He was a founding member of the Knave of Diamonds and the Donkey's Tail groups.
Achievements
- Movement: Neo-impressionism and Rayonism
