GONTCHAROVA, NATALIA (Russian, 1881-1962)

As a painter, Natalia Gontcharova was, together with her lifelong companion the artist Mikhaïl Larionov, the founder of Rayonism, a Russian movement.

Rayonism central feature consists of dynamically interacting linear forms ultimately derived from rays of light and combined to create a two-dimensional representation of reflected light; to this end, its most powerful tools are colour and line. It presents similarities both with Kandinski’s painting approach and the style of the Italian Futurists. Although short-lived, Rayonism proved to be a crucial step in the development of Russian abstract art.

Natalia Gontcharova studied sculpture at the Moscow Academy of Art, but shortly turned to painting. She was deeply inspired by the primitive aspects of Russian folk art and attempted to emulate it in her own work while incorporating elements of Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism and Futurism. In 1910 Gontcharova became one the originators, together with Larionov, Malévitch and Tatline, of the Jack of Diamond group, but later went her separate way to establish with her husband the Donkey's Tail group. She was also a member of the Der Blaue Reiter avant-garde group since its founding in 1911. During the years 1912-13 she began to paint in the near style, developing her own artistic idiom independently of Larionov. In 1915 they both settled permanently in Paris, where ultimately she became famous for her theatrical designs.

Her work shows the influence of Matisse, Gauguin, and Cézanne whose styles she became familiar with during her time in Paris. As member of numerous art associations, Gontcharova participated in many exhibitions; her first one-woman show was in August 1913.