Today Veresov Gallery opens an exhibition of theatrical works of the greatest masters - Natalia Goncharova, A. Benois, Bilibin, I., C. Juon, M. Vrubel, Konstantin Korovin, M. et al Dobuzhinskiy

Veresov Gallery
November 8, 2013 - January 13, 2014
Moscow , Leningrad Prospect , 14, p 2

Today Veresov Gallery presents " Captive ... Russian theater scenography 1900-40 - ies . " The exhibition includes unique costumes and sets for productions of the early XX century, from the collection of the State Central Theater Museum Bakhrushin . Some of the works on display for the first time .

task of the exhibition - to gather in the gallery of the greatest masters of the first half of the twentieth century , whose scope was part of the theater 's creative interests . Natalia Goncharova , Alexander Benois , Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin Ivan , Konstantin Yuon , - just a few of them. The exhibition is a retrospective of Theatre Arts 1900 -40- ies, but the work, from which it is composed , can reveal the main trends of the cultural process of the last century and show the variety of directions in art and set design - from the traditional approach to innovation .

under the project, the works of 13 artists. The exhibition begins theatrical sketches Mikhail Vrubel and Konstantin Korovin Constantin , followed by the works of the artists circle of " World of Art ", among which Alexander Benois , Alexander , Ivan Bilibin , , Mstislav Dobuzhinskii , Kustodiev , Lancer , Nikolai Sapunoff , Sudeikin , Konstantin Yuon . The logical conclusion of the work appear luminaries of Russian avant-garde - Natalia Goncharova and Aristarchus Lentulova .

CONSTANTINE YuON Tadayo . Costume design for the production of " Japanese Fairy Tales" SV Shervinsky , AA Shenshin . Directed Satz Source : museum.ru

Boris Kustodiev Ljubasha . Costume design for the opera by Rimsky - Korsakov's "The Tsar's Bride » Source : museum . ru

late XIX - early XX century - the period of take-off in the development of decorative art in the theater world and the time when the leading position it occupied the Russian master. In the Russian art of scenic design direction are formed , which then will determine the path of both the European and world theater . First, this was due to the arrival on the scene of prominent visual artists - painters easel , such as Mikhail Vrubel , to . Korovin , A. Golovin , enriched the theater of the highest decorative and entertainment. At the same time the master circle "World of Art » Benoit , I. Bilibin , M. Dobuzhinskii and others began to search for new ways to design the stage. Second, an important impetus to the development of decorative art was the work of outstanding directors - Stanislavsky , Tairov , Sun Meyerhold , N. Evreinova , Komissarzhevsky . The innovative " theater director " in many ways defined the basic principles of the art of stage space solutions that are still relevant to this day. Russian stage design at its finest specimens stands level with innovative quests art. Dramatic art ceases to be a " appendage " to the work of the masters of modern times, expanding the search space .

most voluminous section of the exhibition devoted to artists of the "World of Art", and many rare fruitfully working in the theater . Cooperation with entreprise Diaghilev in the " Russian Seasons" - one of the most important stages in the history of musical theater. Ballet performances featuring Anna Pavlova , Tamara Karsavina , V. Nijinsky Russian artists in the design shown in scenes of Paris and London, a real sensation and had a tremendous influence on European art . Russian ballet has received worldwide recognition. But organizers of the exhibition " Captivated theater ... " would like to show a little-known side of the work of artists of this association. Few realize that the dramatic scene work of these artists also achieved artistic heights - not by chance performances, decorated them, invariably becomes an event of theatrical life of the time .

Alexander Benois Design for comedy JB Moliere's "Tartuffe ." Dir. Stanislavsky and VI Nemirovich -Danchenko and A. Benoit . Not implemented Source : museum.ru

Aristarchus Lentulus a city with a red sky Design for J. Fletcher's comedy " The Spanish priest " (premiered in 1935 ) Source : museum.ru

Another significant phenomenon of the national theater - Russian avant-garde, which included and Cubo , and theater constructivism and expressionism . This area is represented in the exhibition by only two , but extremely meaningful names - A. Lentulov and N. Goncharova , have a significant impact on the development of functional forms of scenography of modern times .

Boris Kustodiev Design for the 1st act of Rimsky - Korsakov's " Snow Maiden ". Unrealized production in 1918 Source : museum.ru

Aristarchus Lentulus women's costume Design for " Merry Wives of Windsor " by William Shakespeare . Dir. AP Zonov Source : museum.ru

Along with the avant-garde works by artists who are not prone to extreme innovation ( B. Kustodiev , I. ). Started their artistic career at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries , they have collaborated with theaters , remain committed to the traditional staging methods. On stage, recreating the "snapshot of life" - the real situation of the existence of heroes, which searches for the stage "atmosphere" and performing " mood ».

Each director at the time - Stanislavsky , A . Tairova , Sun Meyerhold , Vakhtangov - had their own creative principles and vision of the theater. Joint search for artists and filmmakers at the beginning of the last century determined the further development of world theater . The artist is no longer only the author of the scenery , he began to address the compositional integrity of the performance. Different understanding of the problems of stage scenery and costumes, the transfer of plastic techniques of painting in the space of the theater , the synthesis of visual and musical images - all this is possible to make a real revolution in the set design, to create a new system of effective set design .

many of the performances included in the history of the theater thanks to interesting decisions set designer . It is not always possible to keep the costumes and sets , and then the theatrical sketches remain one of the few documented evidence about the production . As part of the exhibition to the public are the unique costumes and sets for productions of 1900's 40's from the collection of the State Central Theater Museum Bakhrushin .

Lyudmila Shemrakova

Sources : museum.ru , veresov-gallery.ru