The Art of Russia Season 1 Episode 3 Smashing the Mould

The Art of Russia season 1 episode 3, titled "Smashing the Mould," explores the artistic movements that emerged in Russia at the turn of the 20th century and how they disrupted the traditional art world.

The episode begins by examining the influence of French Impressionism on Russian artists such as Valentin Serov and Konstantin Korovin. Their use of light and color in their paintings sparked a new artistic movement in Russia known as the "Russian Impressionism." The viewer gains insights into how these artists brought light and movement to the Russian art and how they painted portraits of Russian aristocracy.

As the episode progresses, viewers are introduced to the art of Mikhail Vrubel, a symbolist painter who inspired a new generation of artists that wanted to break free from the traditional art scene. Vrubel's dramatic and mystical art pieces reflected the spiritual and political unease in Russia during the late 19th century.

The episode also explores the group of artists known as "The Wanderers." This group of artists rejected the conservative Academy of Arts and formed their own movement that emphasized realism and social commentary. Their paintings highlighted the harsh realities of Russian life, including poverty and oppression.

The second half of the episode focuses on the arrival of modernist art movements like Cubism and Futurism in Russia. These new styles were embraced by Russian artists like Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, and the members of the avant-garde collective, The Blue Rider. The viewer gets to see how their artworks opened new frontiers in art and paved the way for abstraction in Russian art.

One segment of the episode is dedicated to the iconic painting "Black Square" by Malevich, one of the most important pieces in the history of modern art. The painting's meaning and significance are unpacked for the viewer, and the episode discusses the role it played in the development of non-objective art in Russia.

The episode ends by acknowledging that the art movements in Russia during the early 20th century were not always well-received, with some critics denouncing them as "decadent" and "unpatriotic." Nevertheless, the episode highlights the creative force of these artists who dared to break free from convention and ultimately changed the course of art history in Russia.

Overall, "Smashing the Mould" is an engaging and illuminating episode that depicts the rise of the influential artistic movements in Russia at the turn of the 20th century. It highlights the artists' active roles in reshaping the art scene in Russia and how their works of art continue to inspire new generations of artists around the world.