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Jewish Venus by Mikhail Larionov

Jewish Venus

Mikhail Larionov · 1912

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“Stop and look at this striking portrait, "Jewish Venus." Its bold colors and simplified forms challenge traditional beauty, reflecting the radical artistic movements of early 20th-century Russia.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

A figure with striking red hair and a direct gaze dominates this portrait, their face a study in bold, simplified forms. Mikhail Larionov painted this "Jewish Venus" in 1912, a time when he was deeply exploring Neo-primitive styles, drawing inspiration from Russian sign painting and folk art. The raw, almost unrefined quality of the brushwork and the flattened planes of color are deliberate choices, rejecting academic traditions in favor of a more visceral expression. Notice the way the figure's body is rendered with an almost sculptural solidity, yet the details of the face and hands retain a captivating immediacy. This work reflects the avant-garde spirit of early 20th-century Russia, pushing boundaries and challenging conventional notions of beauty and representation.

DETAILS
Artist
Mikhail Larionov
Date
1912
Medium
Oil on canvas
Location
Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts
ART MOVEMENTS
Der Blaue Reiter
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Jewish Venus
01

The vibrant red hair, almost a halo around the figure's head.

02

The stark, almost theatrical makeup around the eyes.

03

The simplified, block-like forms of the body and arms.

04

The direct, unwavering gaze of the figure.

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THE ARTIST

Mikhail Larionov

1881–1964 · Russian Empire

Pioneered Rayonism in 1913, Russia's first abstract art movement, then designed for Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes.

Read Larionov’s full story
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST

Further Works by Larionov

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Still Life with Crayfish Still Life with Crayfish 1900 · Museum Ludwig Portrait of Natalia Goncharova Portrait of Natalia Goncharova 1903 Barber Barber 1907 · Russian Museum Female Passerby Female Passerby 1911 · Ulyanovsk Oblast Art Museum Red and Blue Rayonism (Beach) Red and Blue Rayonism (Beach) 1911 · Museum Ludwig Soldier on a Horse Soldier on a Horse 1911 · Tate Streetcar Streetcar 1911 · Bashkir State Art Museum (Nesterov Museum) Glass Glass 1912 · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
EXPLORE THE MOVEMENT

More from Der Blaue Reiter

See the movement →
Crouching Nude in Shoes and Black Stockings, Back View Crouching Nude in Shoes and Black Stockings, Back View Schiele · 1912 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
KEEP EXPLORING

More works to explore

Beyond Larionov and Der Blaue Reiter: works from the same years.

Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray Same era · 1890s–1920s Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago Burg on Fehmarn Same era · 1890s–1920s Burg on Fehmarn Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1912 · Westphalian State Museum of Art and Cultural History The Lineman Same era · 1890s–1920s The Lineman Ivan Puni · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago Birth Same era · 1890s–1920s Birth Marc Chagall · 1911 · Art Institute of Chicago Sirmione Same era · 1890s–1920s Sirmione John Singer Sargent · 1913 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art Still Life with Glass, Dice, Newspaper and Playing Card Same era · 1890s–1920s Still Life with Glass, Dice, Newspaper and Playing Card Georges Braque · 1913 · Art Institute of Chicago Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler Same era · 1890s–1920s Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler Pablo Picasso · 1910 · Art Institute of Chicago Street Cart Same era · 1890s–1920s Street Cart Egon Schiele · 1914 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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