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Russian Album

Screenprint
2001 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Alexander Florensky began his career in the 1980s as a traditional painter and illustrator but turned to conceptual art in the 1990s joining the satirical Mitki group. His Russian Album is an ironic take on the popular Russian taste for copies of nineteenth-century history paintings in the style of the 'Wanderers' school of social realists. For his purpose Florensky has adopted the idiom of the Lubok or folk print which depicted narrative, moral or satirical subjects and flourished in Russia into the early twentieth century. The accompanying CD shows animated versions of the prints.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Russian Album (series title)
  • The Bachelor Guitar Player (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Screenprint on paper
Brief description
The Bachelor Guitar Player, from The Russian Album. Alexander Florensky, 2001.
Physical description
Screenprint.
Dimensions
  • Height: 78.8cm
  • Width: 53.9cm
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
  • 5/40 (bottom left in pencil)
  • Florensky ((in cyrillics), bottom right in pencil)
  • J&M GUELMAN HAND PRINT STUDIO (Stamped on the back, bottom right, in red ink)
Gallery label
These prints together make up The Russian Album. The scenes parody the sentimental, morally edifying tone of the paintings that were displayed in Soviet classrooms and public buildings. Alexander Florensky is a member of the satirical Mitki group and here has adopted the primitive folk style of the lubok, a Russian popular print with a moral or humorous message. (22/10/2016)
Credit line
Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund
Subjects depicted
Summary
Alexander Florensky began his career in the 1980s as a traditional painter and illustrator but turned to conceptual art in the 1990s joining the satirical Mitki group. His Russian Album is an ironic take on the popular Russian taste for copies of nineteenth-century history paintings in the style of the 'Wanderers' school of social realists. For his purpose Florensky has adopted the idiom of the Lubok or folk print which depicted narrative, moral or satirical subjects and flourished in Russia into the early twentieth century. The accompanying CD shows animated versions of the prints.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
E.2081:6-2004

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Record createdJuly 15, 2004
Record URL
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