VASILIEVA Maria Ivanovna
(In literature there is different information about patronymic of the artist: Vasilievna and Mikhailovna)

February 12, 1884 (Smolensk) — 1957 (Nogent-sur-Marne, France)

Painter, sculptor, master of applied arts

Maria Vasilieva was born to a well-to-do family. In 1902 she studied medicine and fine arts in St. Petersburg. She was awarded a scholarship from the empress for study in Paris. In 1905 Vasilieva prolonged the study in Paris. In 1907 she moved to France; worked as a reporter of the Russian newspapers. Vasilieva took lessons of H. Matisse. In 1909 she published essay about Matisse in Moscow magazine Zolotoye Runo (“Goden Fleece”) No.6. Since 1909 Vasilieva participated in the Autumn Salon, the Salon of Independents. At the same time she founded Free Academy in Montparnasse in Paris, which was also known as the Russian Academy and Vasilieva’s Academy. The Academy was not officially registered institution; it was established on the principle of free work, without teaching; it was also a studio of Vasilieva. A lot of artists visited the Academy: Ch. Soutine, A. Modigliani, M. Chagall, O. Zadkine, J. Gris and many others. In 1913 F. Leger gave two lectures about modern art in the Academy.

In 1909–1914 Maria Vasilieva traveled through Western Europe, Scandinavia, Rumania, and Poland. In 1912–1913 she met L. S. Popova and N. A. Udaltsova. In 1914 Vasilieva worked in field hospital of the French Red Cross. In 1915–1916, in spite of the war, she visited Russia in order to take part in the exhibition 0.10 in Petrograd (she exposed six cubistic works). Vasilieva also participated in the exhibition Magazin (“Shop”) in Moscow, which was organized by K. S. Malevich and V. E. Tatlin; Vasilieva exposed eleven cubistic paintings there. In 1915–1917 she changed her Academy to dining hall in order to help her friends in hard wartime.

After signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1917, Vasilieva as a citizen of Russia was sent from Paris to Fontainebleau. From 1924 till 1937 she was engaged in costume and scene design for different theatres, including the Swedish ballet. In 1925 Vasilieva exposed her works at the International exhibition of fine and decorative arts in Paris. She also designed furniture. In 1927 she created ornamental panel for the restaurant La Coupole in Montparnasse. In 1928–1930 the personal exhibitions of Maria Vasilieva were held in London and in Rome. In 1937 she took part in the International exhibition in Paris. She also created a panel for the Gare Montparnasse.

In 1938 Vasilieva moved to the south of France. In 1945 after the World War II, she returned to Paris. She was an active representative of art circles of Paris. In 1998 memorial studio of Vasilieva was founded by the Musée du Montparnasse

It is difficult to retrace the periods of Vasilieva’s art. Her first works were painted under the influence of Sezanne and Matisse. In 1910s she was interested in cubism; however some art historians supposed that already in 1909 Vasilieva was an active follower of the cubism of J. Braque and P. Picasso. In 1920s–1930s Vasilieva’s manner of painting was changed from easel painting to surrealism and metaphysical school. Cubistic works were the main part of the Vasilieva’s art. She became famous because of cubistic paintings and works of decorative and applied arts; they brought fame to her.