The exhibition continues a series dedicated to the materials and techniques of drawing in Russia. A pastel exhibition is always a major event. The particular vulnerability of these «loose» pastel works is the reason they are rarely exhibited.
The exhibition covers key stages in the development of this unique technique: from the earliest works of the first Russian pastel artists to the bold experiments of artists at the turn of the century. Viewers will see rare examples of the mastery of those who championed the European tradition in Russia: Georg Friedrich Schmidt and Vigilius Eriksen, as well as iconic works by Orest Kiprensky and Alexei Venetsianov.
The shared desire to convey impressions from nature and capture the changing states of nature, characteristic of the turn of the 20th century, is reflected in the masterpieces of artists such as Ivan Kramskoy, Isaac Levitan, Valentin Serov, Maria Yakunchikova, and Elena Polenova. Elements of stylization and even imitation of the old masters’ style can be seen in the works of Alexander Benois, Konstantin Somov, Zinaida Serebryakova, Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, and Mikhail Vrubel. Mikhail Vrubel’s foray into pastel was brief, making his rare works all the more valuable, paving the way for the experiments of a new generation of artists.
