From Realism to the Silver Age

Presenting rigorous new research on the Russian art of the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the thirteen essays in From Realism to the Silver Age examine this area of enormous intellectual and popular appeal while showcasing the latest topics of inquiry in Russian art. Using a range of approaches from close textual readings to institutional critique, the authors freshly consider major artists - including Ilia Repin, Valentin Serov, and Wassily Kandinsky-and the artistic communities Peredvizhnik, a group of Russian realist artists; Mir iskusstva, an early-twentieth-century artistic movement; and Abramtsevo, an estate that became the center of artistic activity in the nineteenth century. Breaking new ground to embrace subjects such as Russian graphic satire and children's book illustrations - as well as aspects of patronage and display - these essays explore the emergence and evolution of cultural institutions and the development of aesthetic discourse and artistic terminology. They also discuss debates between the Academy of Arts and its challengers, art criticism and the Russian press, and the resonance of various forms of nationalism within the art world. Engaging with art history, Slavic studies, cultural history, and others, this vibrant collection will fuel the growing field of Russian art.