“Stop and immerse yourself in the dazzling energy of this early abstract painting. Larionov's "Nocturne" captures the electrifying chaos of a modern night, using light and line to create a sense of thrilling movement.”
In this dynamic work, Mikhail Larionov plunges us into the heart of a vibrant, almost chaotic night scene. The canvas pulses with radiating lines and fragmented forms, characteristic of Rayonism, a movement he pioneered in 1913. Light sources, perhaps streetlights or distant fireworks, explode across the composition, casting long, sharp shadows and creating a sense of rapid movement. The scene feels like a fleeting moment captured in a blur, as if we are speeding past or witnessing an event from a dizzying perspective. This painting, created in 1914, embodies the avant-garde spirit of its time, pushing beyond traditional representation to explore the energy and sensory overload of modern urban life.
- Artist
- Mikhail Larionov
- Date
- 1914
- Location
- National Gallery
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The radiating lines that crisscross the canvas, suggesting light and motion.
Fragmented shapes that hint at figures or buildings, dissolving into light.
The interplay of dark and bright areas, creating dramatic contrasts.
The overall sense of speed and energy in the composition.
Stand in front of it and listen
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Mikhail Larionov
1881–1964 · Russian EmpirePioneered Rayonism in 1913, Russia's first abstract art movement, then designed for Diaghilev's legendary Ballets Russes.
Further Works by Larionov
Still Life with Crayfish
1900 · Museum Ludwig
Portrait of Natalia Goncharova
1903
Barber
1907 · Russian Museum
Female Passerby
1911 · Ulyanovsk Oblast Art Museum
Red and Blue Rayonism (Beach)
1911 · Museum Ludwig
Soldier on a Horse
1911 · Tate
Streetcar
1911 · Bashkir State Art Museum (Nesterov Museum)
Glass
1912 · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
More from Der Blaue Reiter
More works to explore
Beyond Larionov and Der Blaue Reiter: works from the same years.
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray
Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Street Scene (Friedrichstraße Berlin)
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1914 · Staatsgalerie Stuttgart
Same era · 1890s–1920s
The Lineman
Ivan Puni · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Street Cart
Egon Schiele · 1914 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1890s–1920s
The Magic Foot-ball, 'I thought you were wrong,' he said in triumph. 'You said it was nine! Stupid!'
Norman Rockwell · 1914 · Norman Rockwell Museum
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Irises
Claude Monet · 1915 · National Gallery
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Man with a Pipe
Pablo Picasso · 1915 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Sirmione
John Singer Sargent · 1913 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Still Life with Glass, Dice, Newspaper and Playing Card
Georges Braque · 1913 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Laurette with a Cup of Coffee
Henri Matisse · 1916 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Birth
Marc Chagall · 1911 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1890s–1920s
Death in the Garden (Legend)
Paul Klee · 1919 · Art Institute of Chicago

