1920s fashion illustration from post-revolutionary Russia

retro ruth

retro ruth

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I just went to an art exhibition "Defining Constructivism: Rodchenko and Popova" at Tate Modern in London. An exhibition looking at the Constructivist art movement through the work of two of Russia's most influential avant-garde artists, Alexandr Rodchenko and Liubov Popova.

What surprised me was to find some fashion illustration in the show, and I thought I'd share it. I find them rather lovely, clean and simple lines. I love fashion illustration from the 20s, and it was fascinating to see it from just after the 1917 Revolution in Russia.

Design for a Window Display, 1924, Liubov Popova
Cut-and-pasted printed papers, ink, and gouache on paper
popov007_opt.jpg


Dress design, 1923-24, Liubov Popova
ink and watercolour on paper
Popova-dress-design-001.jpg


Dress design, 1923-24, Liubov Popova
ink and watercolour on paper
Popova-dress-design-002.jpg


Dress design, 1923-24, Liubov Popova
ink on paper
popov006_opt.jpg


Some fabrics:

Fabric Design, 1923-24, Liubov Popova
Goache on paper
Popova-fabric-design-001.jpg


Fabric Design, 1923-24, Liubov Popova
Goache on paper
stepanova29.jpg



This one perhaps more what you'd expect from post-revolution Russia:

Alesandra Rodchenko, Design for Working Clothes, 1922
Crayon and ink on paper
01b.jpg


And I'm finishing on my favourite:

Dress design, 1923-24, Liubov Popova
ink and watercolour on paper
popova_desingfordress.jpg


If you like you can read more about the exhibition here:

http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/rodchenkopopova/

Ruth
 
Ruth -

This is fabulous!!! It really makes you stop and think about how international fashion is!

Thank you so much for sharing this. I would love to see this exhibit and just did a search to see where it is going next. I'm afraid I'm out of luck. It will be going to Greece and then to Spain next. Unfortunatley all a bit far from Honolulu!

Linn
 
These are fabulous--thanks for sharing! One of the things that amazes me is how "contemporary" some of the fabric designs look. More proof that so much of fashion takes its inspiration from the past....
 
Those are fabulous Ruth, thank you!

You can see the emergence of the art deco influence in many of the pieces.
 
I am so glad you all enjoy them as much as I do

@joules - I know just what you mean!

Originally posted by cactusandcattails
You can see the emergence of the art deco influence in many of the pieces.
Click to expand...

I thought this too - the geometric way the dresses are drawn is very Art Deco.

Ruth
 
Ruth,

Thank you so much for sharing this, I will check it out further later tonight. It is so valuable to see the fashion designers and textile designers who stayed behind in Russia after the revolution, as so many fled the country or were killed or imprisoned if they were upper class, etc. Really wonderful to see!
 
This thread is 3 years old .... I just noticed that the post that bumped it up has (soon to be had) a link in it.... Still great to revisit these drawings though!

Linn
 
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