THE TSUKANOV ART COLLECTION

Natalya Sergeevna Goncharova was a major artist of the Russian avant-garde and a founder of the ‘non-primitivism’ movement. Her early period lasted until around 1907 when the artist took a preference to pastel technique, drawing urban parks and streets with old houses. Interpreting them reveals lessons from the art of French painters of the ‘Les Nabis’ group. The gentle lyricism of the early works was soon replaced by a consistent neo-primitivism. The artist gathered inspiration in the Russian icon, popular folk paintings, pagan idols and stone ‘babas’. One feature of her painting was the use of flat colour spots, defined by a sharp outline, reminiscent of Gauguin’s techniques, an artist who influenced very many Russian painters.   The most important works of this artist of everyday subjects date back to the turn of decade and were dominated by peasant motifs. In her search for a ‘high theme’, Goncharova turned to traditional religious subjects, often remoulding antitypes. At the end of the 1900’s, as well as expressionist primitivism, Goncharova worked in other styles. In a strict successive order, she used the language of art from past eras, from Ancient Egypt through to Russian folk art. More so than other Russian artists, Goncharova became concerned with the ideology of cubism and futurism, depicting industrial motifs which were subject to the rhythms of large cities. She also paid homage to non-figurative painting in the style invented by M.F. Laruonov, namely ‘rayism’. Her colourful, expressive works today remain unrivalled examples of the creative rethinking of traditions. Natalya Goncharova’s creative self of the latter Parisian period of her life was primarily associated with the theatre.