Victor Barthe

Painter, graphic artist, illustrator, designer, writer on art. Born in the family of a vet called Sergei Bart in the village of Velichayevka (Velichayevskoe) in Stavropole Province (1887). Studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1906–11, expelled), where he met Mikhail Larionov, Natalia Goncharova, David Burliuk and Vladimir Mayakovsky. Helped to organise the Knave of Diamonds exhibition (1910). Enrolled at the Imperial Academy of Arts and studied under Jan Ciagli?skj for several months (1911). Painted murals, illustrated books and wrote on the theory of composition in painting (1913). Called up into the Russian army and sent to the front as an ensign on the outbreak of the First World War (1914). Transferred to France and fought with the Russian Expeditionary Corps in Thessalonika. Sent to Algiers with the Russian Expeditionary Corps (1918). Lived and worked in Paris (1918–36). Read papers at gatherings of Russian artists, collaborates with the Udar chronicle of art and literature and contributed to exhibitions. Kept in touch with Russia. Collaborated with the Makovets magazine and helped to design the Soviet pavilion at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris (1925). Returned to Russia (1936), where he produced lithographs and illustrated books, but was accused of Formalism and criticised for working in a modernist style. Worked on academic textbooks (from 1951). Died in Moscow (1954). Contributed to the exhibitions of the Knave of Diamonds (1910), Union of Youth (1911), Donkey’s Tail (1912) and Target (1913).