Russian Posters
of the 20th century
Alevtina Kalinina
The beginning of the 20th century in
Russia, as in the rest of Europe in terms
of art and design, can be called the era
of Art Nouveau. The visual arts, applied
arts, furniture, theatre scenery and
clothes all came under the influence of
Art Nouveau designers and artists. Advertising
posters were no exception.
According to Nina Baburina, a historian
of graphic art, the development of posters
into a separate art form took place
in Russia simultaneously with Western
Europe—during the last decades of the
19th century. Thus, the first international
exhibition of “artistic posters” took place
in St. Petersburg in 1897 and presented
works of foreign and Russian designers
such as M. Vrubel, E. Lanceret (World of
Art group), L. Bakst and others. Designers’
creations were divided into the following
categories: industrial, socio-political and
entertainment posters. Each class had its
own visual vocabulary. Under the section
of entertainment posters, for example,
artists often used themes from antiquity,
allegorical stylizations as in K. Somov’s
billboards for the exhibitions of Russian
and Finnish painters (1898).
The current exhibition at the Tretyakov
Gallery presents graphics works
from Fedor Fedorov’s collection that
form the basis of the museum’s collection,
as well as unique billboards of
theatrical and exhibition projects,
which were donated to the Tretyakov
Gallery as a part of the heritage of the
outstanding Russian artist of Mikhail
Larionov in 1989. “Subscribe to ‘Niva’
magazine and get a discount on a
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April 29-September 11
State Tretyakov Gallery
10, Lavrushinsky lane
10.00-19.00, except Monday
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poetry
collection.” “Don’t holiday in
Nice—Russia has its own Côte d’Azur:
Gagra.”
These were the advertising realities
of early 20th century Russia. Advertising,
publishing materials and
posters in particular reflect the tastes
of the audiences and their preferences.
And here we can see what was in fashion
in pre-revolutionary Russia.
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