Group portrait of painters of the World of Art 1910

Boris Kustodiev painted this group portrait of painters of the World of Art, an artistic movement, in the early 20th century. Russia, at this time, was a society steeped in tradition, yet on the cusp of revolutionary change. The members of the World of Art sought to synthesize contemporary aesthetic movements with traditional Russian art. Looking at the painting, it becomes clear that this circle was exclusively male, and most likely upper-middle class. The portrait invites questions about who is included and excluded from the narrative of Russian art. Each man is carefully posed, and their expressions are difficult to read. We wonder, what kind of creative power dynamics were at play? The work provides a window into a specific cultural moment, and the complex interplay of tradition, identity, and artistic expression. It prompts us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out.