Alexander Rodchenko

Alexander Rodchenko 
Russia
1891–1956
Practice: Photography; Painting; Graphic design; Sculpture
Movement/Style: Modern art, Constructivism; DADA

Rodchenko’s diversity in style and mediums is captivating. The book Design: Rodchenko (Milner, J 2009) delivers a comprehensive account of Rodchenko’s career, the introduction, although short, providing a concise timeline of Rodchenko’s childhood and connections to the theatre, as a painter, through to political and sociological occurrence that saw Rodchenko’s evolution from painter through to designer and one of the most influential creatives of the Constructivist movement. Milner touches on Rodchenko’s connections with Futurism (and the differences between the Russian and Italian factions), the artist’s ideals based in disassociation in art, minimalism, contrast and colour, along with several constraints that led Rodchenko to these styles and social connections. Sadly, the book does not present any of Rodchenko’s photography. The book is an excellent resource for general information about Rodchenko and valuable resource for further research. 

Alexander Rodchenko, Spatial Construction no. 12, 1928

Alexander Rodchenko, Girl with a Leica, 1932–33

Notes

Rodchenko's subject matter and approach to photography are fascinating. Girl with a Leica (Rodchenko 1932–33) is an excellent example of how strongly Rodchenko's graphic design background influenced his photography. Rodchenko is one of the great Modernists for a reason. 

Keywords

Russia, WW1, Anti-art, Graphic design, Collage, Photography, Politics, Socioeconomics, Poster art, Influence, Constructivism, Dada, Propaganda, Communism, Revolutionary, Theatre designer, Printer, Painter, Sculptor, Photographer, Art theory, Education, Constructivists' Manifesto, Realist Manifesto, Machine-made, Materials , Illustration, Commercial design, Photomontage, Flexible, Trademark, Techniques

Bibliography

Milner, J 2009, Design: Rodchenko, Antique Collectors Club, Woodbridge, Suffolk

MoMA n.d., Alexander Rodchenko, viewed 14 March 2020, <https://www.moma.org/artists/4975#works>

Rodchenko, A 1920, Spatial Construction no. 12, photograph, viewed 14 March 2020, <https://www.moma.org/collection/works/81043>

Rodchenko, A 1932–33, Girl with a Leica, photograph, viewed 14 March 2020, <https://www.moma.org/collection/works/83882>

The Art Story n.d., Constructivism, viewed 14 March 2020, <https://www.theartstory.org/movement/constructivism/>