Dancer of the East 

Alexander Rodchenko made "Dancer of the East" using watercolor and pencil on paper. These aren't materials that immediately scream ‘revolution,’ but Rodchenko wasn’t interested in traditional artistic hierarchies. Here, the geometric forms create a figure in motion, rendered with precise lines and vibrant colors. Rodchenko was deeply involved in the Russian avant-garde, and this work is a prime example of Constructivism. Look closely, and you will see the legacy of design and drafting in the crisp execution of his work. He built a practice that brought art and design together. But what does it mean for an artist to turn away from painting, and toward graphic design, photography, and material production? Rodchenko saw this as a way to serve the revolution, putting his skills in the service of the people. He didn’t want to make art for art’s sake. He wanted to contribute directly to building a new society. That is a very different form of labor.