Beaux Arts Magazine retraces the Vitebsk School, Chagall's revolutionary art utopia
Beaux Arts Magazine's back-to-school feature showcases five art institutions, including the École de Vitebsk, which was established on January 28, 1919, at 10 rue Boukharinskaïa. Founded by Belarusian artist Marc Chagall (1887–1985), the school provided free education and was influenced by Moscow's Svomas studios. In May 1919, El Lissitzky (1890–1941) became part of the faculty, later encouraging Kasimir Malevitch (1879–1935) to form the UNOVIS group in early 1920. Students such as Ilia Tchachnik and Nina Kogan contributed to the dissemination of suprematist ideas. Chagall left in June 1920 due to disagreements with Malevitch. The institution transitioned to the State Free Art Workshops, later becoming the State Higher Art and Technical Workshops in 1921, but closed after four years due to famine and Soviet policies.
Key facts
- The École populaire d'art de Vitebsk was inaugurated on 28 January 1919 at 10 rue Boukharinskaïa.
- Marc Chagall (1887–1985) founded the school and was named people's commissar for fine arts.
- El Lissitzky (1890–1941) arrived in Vitebsk in May 1919 to lead architecture, graphic arts and printing workshops.
- Kasimir Malevitch (1879–1935) joined months later and founded the UNOVIS group in early 1920.
- Chagall resigned in June 1920 and moved to Moscow; Vera Ermolaeva then directed the school.
- The school was renamed the State Free Art Workshops of Vitebsk, then the State Higher Art and Technical Workshops in 1921.
- It closed after only four years due to famine, cold, scarce resources and the Soviet marginalization of abstract art.
- Beaux Arts Magazine's weekly series on five art schools runs every Wednesday until 7 October.
Entities
Artists
- Marc Chagall
- El Lissitzky
- Kasimir Malevitch
- Iouri Pen
- Vera Ermolaeva
- David Yakerson
- Nina Kogan
- Alexandre Romm
- Ilia Tchachnik
- Nikolaï Souetine
- Anatoli Lounatcharski
Institutions
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- École populaire d'art de Vitebsk
- UNOVIS
- Narkompros
- Svomas
- Académie Julian
- Black Mountain College
- Bauhaus
- galerie Trétiakov
- Art Gallery of Ontario
- musée d'État des Beaux-Arts Pouchkine
- Centre Pompidou
- Adagp
- Bridgeman Images
- Fine Art Images
Locations
- Vitebsk
- Belarus
- Moscow
- Russia
- Petrograd
- Toronto
- Canada
- Paris
- France