Danseuses Du Cirque 

Mikhail Larionov made "Danseuses Du Cirque" using oil on canvas. The early twentieth century was a time when traditional artistic values were being challenged, and Larionov played a key role in this shift, particularly within the Russian avant-garde. As a founder of Rayonism, Larionov sought to abstract from reality, focusing on the rays of light reflected from objects rather than the objects themselves. In this image, the circus becomes a stage for exploring new modes of representation. Made in a pre-revolutionary Russia, the painting presents figures associated with entertainment, but rendered in a deliberately crude style. Larionov’s style may be seen to reflect a broader cultural interest in folk art and the demotic, while also representing the artist's engagement with international trends such as Cubism and Futurism. To understand fully the painting’s significance, we might consider how Larionov situated himself within the debates of his time, drawing on manifestos, exhibition reviews, and contemporary accounts. The politics of imagery in pre-revolutionary Russia are central to understanding this work.