Natalia Goncharova -Mystical Images of War

Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova (Russian: Ната́лья Серге́евна Гончаро́ва) 1881 – 1962). Born in Nagaevo, Russia. Moved to France in the 30’s. Painter and Costume Designer.

Natalia Goncharova, along with fellow bohemian artist and partner Mikhail Larionov, experimented with every Avant-Garde style that came along in Russia, most notably Neo-Primitism, Rayonism, Cubo-Futurism, Der Blaue Reiter (the blue rider) and something called Everythingism (russ. Vsechestvo). Everythingism was considered as an extension of Neo-Primitivism (I must investigate!). A few examples:

The Annunciation (The Virgin and Gabriel), Costume Design for the ballet Lithurgy (Neo-Primivism)

Her series Mystical Images of War, mixing Russian religious iconography, Avant-Garde painting and militaristic propaganda is a mesure of how the Art world has changed its depictions of War after WWI. Along with the Italians Futurists and many others at the time, Goncharova found beauty and spiritual exaltation in warfare.