El Lizitsky.pdf - mhc-subjects

<strong>El</strong> Lissitzky<br />

Russian Constructivism – born 1890 – died 1941<br />

Title: Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge Date:1919<br />

<strong>El</strong> Lissitzky was one of the most important and influential artists of the early twentieth<br />

century - he worked as an architect, designer, painter and photographer. A<br />

contemporary of Chagall's in the early 1910s, he later founded the constructivist<br />

movement with Naum Gabo, Tatlin and Rodchenko. 'Untitled (Pressa catalogue)' is an<br />

original photocollage with ink and paint additions. The 'Pressa' catalogue was designed<br />

by the artist in his role as the main designer and the Soviet Union's official<br />

commissioner for the international 'Pressa' exhibition in Cologne in 1928 which was<br />

devoted to the press, publishing and printing industries. Lissitzky's designs for the<br />

'Pressa' exhibition marked a turning point in his career, when he finally succumbed to<br />

figurative and documentary imagery, making use of a combination of photography,<br />

typography, painting and design. Lissitzky's contributions to abstract art in the 1920s are<br />

well established, however his important experiments in photography, photomontage,<br />

graphic and exhibition designs in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s remain<br />

controversial.

---

<strong>El</strong> Lissitsky<br />

Russia, Early 20 th Century - “Art is dead!...Art is as dangerous as religion as an escapist<br />

activity” Let us cease our speculative activity (painting pictures) and take over the<br />

healthy bases of art – colour, line, materials, and forms – into a field of reality, of<br />

practical construction.”<br />

Key Features<br />

Feature Significance<br />

Foundation for New<br />

World Order<br />

Graphic design extension of Constructivism which seeks to reduce art<br />

to its most basic building blocks (Squares and lines) to then rebuild a<br />

whole new world without the corruption of traditional ways of doing<br />

things = The style of the Russian Revolution = New beginning.<br />

Influence of Mondrian Influenced by De Stijl – Mondrian = all vertical and horizontal with only<br />

primary colours = purity of essential ingredients for making images<br />

Influence of Bauhaus Influenced by the Bauhaus – Minimalism – only sans serif and lower<br />

case letters = Form follows function with no unnecessary decoration.<br />

Colour Symbolism Colour – Black white and red mainly = Strong graphic effect and also<br />

socialist symbolism with red being the colour of communism<br />

Use of Negative Space Negative Space - White on black in some areas balanced by black on<br />

white in other areas. The spaces around objects are carefully<br />

Text as visual<br />

compositional<br />

element<br />

considered as shapes in themselves.<br />

Letter pictures – Text not just placed horizontally. Letters curve<br />

around, stack on top of each other, go diagonally, and combine<br />

together to form triangles, arrows and other shapes.<br />

Collage Montage Collage – Alternative style of constructivism = more political using<br />

working class images from newspaper – anti the high class art-forms<br />

Compositional<br />

balance<br />

of painting. But still geometrically organised and arranged.<br />

Balance – Curves and diagonals = movement, dynamic are balanced<br />

against each other and against verticals and horizontals which a<br />

stabilising, static. Many smaller elements (like letters) are balanced<br />

against a single larger element. Many smaller light coloured elements<br />

are balanced against a larger single dark element.<br />

Simplicity <strong>El</strong>imination of all decoration and unnecessary detail – only meaningful<br />

elements are included. Symbolic of a new society that would rebuild<br />

from scratch without any corruption from the old order.<br />

Sans Serif Fonts Block letters – Sans Serif – Clear communication with that is the same<br />

for all – Fancy letters mean some are more important than others<br />

which means some people are more important than others –<br />

Communism believes everyone is equal.<br />

Geometric All forms and even letters built from basic geometric shapes =<br />

Rebuilding a new society form scratch without any corruption from the<br />

old ways = Purity – form follows function.<br />

Golden Ratio 1-1.618 – Developed by the Greeks in ancient times and is believed to<br />

be the most harmonious and beautiful proportion – used to create<br />

balanced compositions and relationships between elements.<br />

Formal Carefully ordered and arranged to create balanced and clearly<br />

communicate the message<br />

Official - Propaganda State approved official art style – Used to deliver a message about<br />

political ideology.