Customer Reviews

Moscow & St. Petersburg 1900-1920: Art, Life, & Culture of the Russian Silver Age

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While agreeing with the generally laudatory comments posted by the other reviewers of this book, I would like to inform the prospective purchaser of a few negative aspects to take into consideration. Firstly the size of the publication is roughly equivalent to that of a large paperback novel; ideally given its nature it should be bigger.

The book is very liberally illustrated-an average of 2 photographs per page (although they tend to be clumped together). Thus some of the reproductions-which are of good quality- can be very small in dimension. Furthermore the print size of the text is also small and not particularly comfortable to read. I realise I might be sounding picky, but had the publishers presented this book in a more generous dimension, it would be far more recommendable.

This lushly illustrated volume captures the artistic explosion that was Russia's Silver Age. From Blok
and Akhmatova, to Stravinsky, Bakst, Repin, Pasternak, Vrubel and Meyerhold, the first two decades of the 20th century were a time of exciting and colorful artistic experimentation in Russia. As Bowlt (a member of this magazine's Advisory Board) writes in the introduction: "there was something unique and unrepeatable about the Russian Silver Age. It acknowledged the new art and science of the West, but tailored them to local exigencies so as to produce an effervescent cocktail..."

With thematic chapters exploring everything from ballet to Symbolism (and of course the glowering backdrop of revolution and imperial decline) and a thoroughly enthralling collection of photography and artwork (650 illustrations in all), Bowlt has assembled an uncommonly beautiful and useful reference on an era which too often is overshadowed by the hurricane of repression that inundated it.

We will never see anything again like the Silver Age, not in Russia, nor anywhere else. But, thanks to this new work, we can walk through it again, albeit at our almost incomprehensible historical remove. (Reviewed in Russian Life)

Before the domination of Communist state-sponsored and approved art with the political ascension of the Bolsheviks, Moscow and St. Petersburg, the premier cities of Russia, were home to vibrant, creative, and extraordinary communities of artists, architects, writers, dancers, and musicians. "Moscow & St. Petersburg: 1900-1920 -- Art, Life & Culture Of The Russian Silver Age" by academician and specialist in Russian art history John Bowlt (Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Southern California, Los Angeles) is a superbly written work of meticulous scholarship providing an informed and informative history of the artistic personalities and achievements represented by two outstanding decades of an artistic renaissance in a Tsarist Russia that were the last free form art movement that country was to see until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Enhanced with the inclusion of 650 illustrations (400 of which are in color), "Moscow & St. Petersburg: 1900-1920" also features a section of extensive notes, a glossary of terms and abbreviations, a bibliography for further reading, and a comprehensive index. A truly seminal work, "Moscow & St. Petersburg: 1900-1920" is especially recommended for academic library European Art History and Russian Cultural Studies reference collections in general, and the personal reading lists for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in pre-Soviet Russian contributions to the arts in particular.

as I looked through it, I was amazed that it didn't contain the same tired photographs and reproductions of the period. Where the author found them is not anywhere as important as that he did and I must laud him for including them in his book. A thoroughly first rate book on a subject that something is known about but not as much as many of us would like. Definitely worth the 5 stars!

This book is not for people who don't have some background in art history and Russia, each as their own subjects, generally. That being said, this book is an excellent resource for people looking for in-depth information about a very specific slice of time. It is broken down into logical chunks and richly punctuated with reproductions of all kinds of art from the period - absolutely gorgeous to look through and very satisfying to hold - excellent quality paper and good weight.

For true bibliophiles with an interest in art history, this is a prize for your collection - you won't be disappointed. But it isn't light reading!

Magnificent and magnificently illustrated tome covering unique, fruitful and exciting period in Russian art. It is not particularly easy reading but not too academic either - somewhere in-between. Very-very enjoyable.

I have been fascinated by this short yet very special period in history where amazing artistic creations occured, which casted longlasting influences on all the art forms later on. There have been bits and pieces of information about this period in English, but this book summerizes beautifully with gorgeous illustrations. This is the great source of inspirations for art curators to make a very magical exhibition.