Arts and Crafts

Reacting against the strictures of the international academic style, Russian artists turned to native arts and crafts for inspiration, often deriving subject-matter from Russian history and fairytales. Using a narrative and representational style, the artists sought to repeat the bright and stylized qualities of indigenous arts such as icons and wood carvings. A parallel to this style existed in the Arts and Crafts Movement in England, Europe, and the US. The movement was not accompanied by any significant published manifesto, but was much influenced by Art Nouveau. (1895-ca. 1920). The principal Russian representatives were Nesterov, Polenova, Ryabushkin, Vasnetsov, Yakunchikova, and their colleagues at Abramtsevo and Talashkino.