The Boundaries of Genre. Russian Painting of the Late 19th – Early 20th Century
Keywords:
Painting, genre, genre system, Art Nouveau, impressionism, realism, symbolism, Vrubel, Serov, Borisov-Musatov, KorovinAbstract
A special hierarchy of genres developed over time in Russian academic art. It consisted of certain types of paintings that originally existed independently. All of them were located in the hierarchy in a correct order according to their importance and complexity of execution — from still-lifes to historical paintings. By the end of the 19th c. the division into “high” and “low” genres passed away. Genre system was influenced by diff erent styles — salon art, realism, eclecticism, impressionism, symbolism, art nouveau. The changes were signifi cant. In this period we cannot fi nd some genres, such as battle-picture. In the works of the greatest masters like Serov, Vrubel, Borisov-Musatov, Korovin the boundaries between genres are blurred. Now new genres and complex modifi cations of pre-existing genres appear in painting. The subject of this study, determining its relevance, is the structure and the characters of genre system of the Russian painting of the late 19th – early 20th c. Th e elusiveness of genre affi liation does not detract the dignity of artistic works, but rather adds to their charm and appeal. Th ese paintings are the glory of the Russian art of the late 19th – early 20th cc. Th is phenomenon is interesting and symptomatic for this period in art.
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