Artwork

Χωρίς τίτλο

Χωρίς τίτλο, by Mikhail Larionov, unspecified, 1900
Χωρίς τίτλο, by Mikhail Larionov, unspecified, 1900

Χωρίς τίτλο is an unspecified painting by the Symbolist artist Mikhail Larionov. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus. The work, untitled, exemplifies the shift toward new primitivism that emerged in Russian art during the early twentieth century.

About this work

Overview

The work, untitled, exemplifies the shift toward new primitivism that emerged in Russian art during the early twentieth century. Created by the collaborative duo Natalia Goncharova and Mikhail Larionov, it reflects the period’s move away from Symbolist realism toward abstraction, employing bold, uneven brushwork on a stark white ground.

Subject & Meaning

The composition draws on motifs from Russian folk traditions, echoing the decorative patterns found in Siberian embroidery, traditional bread designs, children’s toys, and lubki prints. By invoking these primitive visual sources, the artists sought to express a raw, emotive response rather than depict recognizable objects.

Technique & Style

Thick, irregular strokes of vivid pigment swirl across the canvas, their edges contained yet unevenly distributed, creating a sense of spontaneous movement. The handling of paint anticipates later Russian avant‑garde experiments with free form and non‑representational surface treatment.

History & Provenance

The piece was first shown publicly in December 1909 at the third exhibition organized by the Golden Fleece group in Moscow. This show marked the debut of Goncharova and Larionov’s new‑primitivist style, following earlier group exhibitions in 1908 and early 1909 that featured French and Russian painters.

Context

The emergence of new primitivism coincided with a broader turn in folk art during the nineteenth century, which created fertile ground for the movement. The relocation of Russia’s artistic center from St. Petersburg to Moscow further encouraged younger artists to view the capital as the hub of contemporary culture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Mikhail Larionov

Mikhail Larionov liked to work in the dark—literally. He painted by candlelight to test his colors at night, then scrapped half of them by morning. The rule he broke: Russian conventions. His 1912 *Rayonist Composition*…