Russian Constructivist Photography Elizabeth Horejs Media 203 8 May 2015

1917 “Beat the Whites” by El Lissitsky, 1919 In 1917, Russia had a couple of revolutions, aptly named by when they started - the February Revolution and the October Revolution. The February Revolution caused the last emperor, Nicholas II to abdicate and the Russian Provisional Government was formed by the imperial parliament. However, the Soviets (aka workers’ councils) only allowed this for so long. All the while, the First World War was taking place. The October Revolution was led by Vladimir Lenin (Bolshevik party) and the Soviets. They overthrew the Provisional Government. Unfortunately civil war erupted between the “Reds” (Bolsheviks), the “Whites” (anti-socialist clan), and the non- Bolshevik socialists. It lasted for several years. In 1922, the USSR was created from the series of conflicts. “Beat the Whites” by El Lissitsky, 1919 http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/easy-guide-design-movements-constructivism-10134843

Constructivism Constructivist art arose from within the Russian avant-garde after the October Revolution. The art was basic, geometric, angular, experimental, and abstract with an affection for modernity. Although this type of art may be different for the time, Constructivists believed that this was not an individualistic form of art. All constructivism art and architecture was of political means, and Soviet Russia was the canvas. Artists in Russia took Cubism (i.e. Pablo Picasso) and added futuristic nuances.

The most well-known Russian Constructivists are: Aleksandr Rodchenko, 1891 - 1956 “Stairs”, 1930 http://www.foam.org/media/253345/Rodchenko%20Alexander%20Stairs%201930%20c%20A%20Rodchenko%20V%20Stepanova%20Archive%20Moscow%20House%20of%20Photography%20Museum.jpg “Spatial Construction No. 12” http://www.moma.org/collection_images/resized/493/w500h420/CRI_210493.jpg

El Lissitzky, 1890 - 1940 Self – portrait “Proun”, 1920s https://utopiadystopiawwi.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/el-lissitzky-self-portrait-constructor-1924.jpg?w=785 “Proun”, 1920s http://imageshack.com/f/824/lissitzkyproun.jpg

Tatlin’s Tower or the Monument to the Third Internation, 1919-1920 Vladimir Tatlin, 1885 - 1953 Tatlin’s Tower or the Monument to the Third Internation, 1919-1920 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatlin%27s_Tower

Kazimir Malevich, 1878 - 1935 “Suprematism”, 1916 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazimir_Malevich Self – portrait, 1912 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazimir_Malevich

Photomontage Constructivists were the early creators of photomontage. The first examples collaged news photographs and painted sections together. Soviet Constructivists formed a journal, Left Front of the Arts (LEF), which wanted to maintain the avant-garde of Russia. LEF aided in promoting the distinctive style of cubo-constructivism. It involved jagged angles, contrasting, and abstracting light. http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/1998/rodchenko/texts/photocollage.html

Various Other Artworks “Books!”, Rodchenko & Stepanova,1924 http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/easy-guide-design-movements-constructivism-10134843 Agitprop poster, Mayakovsky http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism_%28art%29 http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/constructivism/ “The Construction of Architectural and Machine Forms”, Yakov Chernikhov, 1931 http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/easy-guide-design-movements-constructivism-10134843

The End Government power toiled after the death of Lenin in 1924 which began Stalin’s rule. Those who viewed in agreement with Stalin regarded Constructivist aesthetic too uncommon to be an effective tool in propaganda. The Stalinists decided that all future design should concede with the conservative neoclassical style of socialist realism. Those who refused this decision retired from public life, left Russia, wound up in the Gulag, or the state police visited them in the night. https://www.google.com/search?q=russian+constructivist+photography&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&site=webhp&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n11MVfy4H9e2ogTg74DIDQ&ved=0CB0QsAQ#imgrc=J_9Ui-F9EFqDUM%253A%3BWyWXDlW1XO7EcM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcloud.lomography.com%252F576%252F397%252F73%252Fad4f5fe57e73fb181c16bfef04c49222aeaf73.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fpixgood.com%252Fconstructivist-art-movement.html%3B576%3B397

References http://www.spencerart.ku.edu/exhibitions/constructivist.shtml http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/constructivism/ http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/easy-guide-design-movements-constructivism-10134843 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism_%28art%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution