Five Historic Artistic Rivalries That Shaped Art History
A recent article explores five iconic artistic rivalries that sparked both creativity and discord. In 1940, Mexican muralists Diego Rivera and David Siqueiros had a political fallout, highlighted by Siqueiros's assault on Trotsky's residence. Russian innovators Vladimir Tatlin and Kazimir Malevich found themselves at odds over the essence of art, resulting in peculiar moments, such as Tatlin leaping into a pond. In Georgian England, portrait artists Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough frequently clashed over their differing techniques at the Royal Academy but made amends before Gainsborough passed away in 1788. The rivalry between J.M.W. Turner and John Constable intensified after Constable replaced Turner's artwork at the 1831 exhibition, prompting Turner's retaliation in 1832. Lastly, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning had a fraught relationship, with Pollock accusing de Kooning of treachery.
Key facts
- Diego Rivera and David Siqueiros were leading Mexican Muralists with opposing political allegiances: Rivera backed Leon Trotsky, Siqueiros supported Joseph Stalin.
- In May 1940, Siqueiros led an attack on Trotsky's house; Trotsky was unharmed but his grandson was wounded. Trotsky was murdered in August 1940.
- Vladimir Tatlin and Kazimir Malevich had fundamental disagreements: Tatlin prioritized function, Malevich emphasized spiritual and theoretical aspects of art.
- Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough were rival portraitists in Georgian England; Gainsborough confessed admiration for Reynolds days before his death in 1788.
- J.M.W. Turner and John Constable's rivalry intensified when Constable swapped Turner's painting at the 1831 Royal Academy exhibition; Turner retaliated in 1832 by adding a red stroke to his unfinished seascape.
- Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning were Abstract Expressionists with difficult personalities; Pollock accused de Kooning of betraying art at an exhibition opening.
- After Pollock's death in 1956, de Kooning settled near his grave and had a relationship with Ruth Kligman, Pollock's mistress and sole survivor of the car crash that killed him.
- The article highlights how these rivalries often fueled artistic experiments and innovations.
Entities
Artists
- Diego Rivera
- David Alfaro Siqueiros
- Joseph Stalin
- Leon Trotsky
- Vladimir Tatlin
- Kazimir Malevich
- Joshua Reynolds
- Thomas Gainsborough
- J.M.W. Turner
- John Constable
- Jackson Pollock
- Willem de Kooning
- Peggy Guggenheim
- Betty Parsons
- Ruth Kligman
Institutions
- Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes México
- Moderna Museet Stockholm
- The State Russian Museum
- Dulwich Picture Gallery
- Royal Academy of Art
- Guggenheim Museum
- MoMA
Locations
- Mexico
- Paris
- France
- Russia
- Soviet Union
- England
- London
- St Petersburg
- Stockholm
- Sweden
- New York
- United States