The Benois Wing

The Russian Museum owns a fine collection of Russian avant-garde art, representing practically every trend, name and movement in this branched process that confirmed the new aesthetical ideas and means of artistic expression. Mikhail Larionov (1881–1964) and Natalia Goncharova (1881–1962) were possibly the first to depart from the narrative nature of the old art and accentuate the simplification of form (N. Goncharova. «Peasant Women», 1908; М. Larionov. «Camp», 1910). Attention to the folk art of various countries, among them Russia and the Ukraine, enriched the palette and plastics of these artists and left a bright trace in Russian art.

An artist who sadly died young, Olga Rozanova (1886-1918) was one of the most talented members of the Russian avant-garde. Like the majority of her contemporaries, she passed through a period of Neo-Primitivism, when she painted Red House (1908) and In a Cafe (1912-1913). Rozanova was inspired by Russian provincial life, icons, folk prints (lubok), toys and traditional fretwork.

In this room the works of the other members of Larionov’s group such as Alexander Shevchenko (Musicians, 1913) and Mikhail Le-Dantiu (Sazandar) are exhibited. The pictures by the Georgian artist Nico Pirosmani (Prince with a Horn of Wine, 1908) creative work of whom the Larionov’s group appreciated and promoted are also displayed in the room.