The newest Tretyakov building has opened. The Peredvizhniki were the first to be shown. It is with the exhibition dedicated to the work of the members of the Society for Traveling Art Exhibitions that the gallery wing on the Kadashevskaya Embankment begins its work.
The organizers say this is the largest project in the last 50 years devoted to perhaps the best-known artists' association in Russia. What interesting things can you see here? First of all, the history of the movement itself. Like any phenomenon, the association started, developed, reached the height of popularity and fame, and then came to a crisis split. The exhibition even includes post-Peredvizhniki works by participants, which are of separate interest.
The announcement promisingly declared an entire section titled "The Women's Question." In fact it amounts to four paintings, but nevertheless the importance of the issue of women's place in society, which was on the agenda at the end of the 19th century, is reflected. Female artists also appeared at that time. Studying alongside men at the academy was still impossible, but they were already allowed to attend art classes as auditors. The first woman admitted to the Peredvizhniki society was Emilia Shanks. One of her paintings is also on display at the exhibition.
It's very interesting that the exhibition organizers indicated in the caption for each painting not only the artist, title and museum collection, but also the year when the painting was exhibited on a traveling show. And although the works are hung according to a different principle, you can still trace the dynamics. For example, who would have thought that the exhibits of the later exhibitions included portraits of Grand Dukes and even the Empress! So what was once created in opposition to the Imperial Academy of Arts has itself become a kind of academy.
Although 90% of the works are canonical, the exhibition is nonetheless interesting and worth visiting. It occupies a large hall on the third floor, while the rest of the enormous building is public spaces, corridors, a shop, staircases... The views of Moscow from the huge panoramic windows are magnificent! I will be eagerly awaiting the next exhibition.
