A russian artist of the early 20th century, Yuri Pavlovich Annenkov (1889-1974) left his mark in the world of modern painting by experimenting with different mediums and techniques and by combining at times various influences from Cubism to Impressionism, to Expressionism, to Dadaism to the art of caricature. He collaborated with magazines and worked for theatre and cinema as a graphic artist. His portraits are of exceptional quality and his graphic work bears the whole-mark of movements such as the Russian Avant Garde and Futurism.
But the balanced blend of Cubism, Realism and Expressionism are especially striking in some of his portraits. Not everything is deconstructed. The straight lines and cut up world of Cubism covers only the background and a realistic portrait with expressionistic traits is placed in front of this background as if sitting in front of a painting. Then the shadows, the colors and the lines which know no boundaries, overlap and come together as a whole.
Annenkov later on experimented with abstract paintings and collages as well as sculptures of mixed materials. Carrying his Russian Avant Garde credentials, he managed to bring together diverse movements and styles. This was always the basis for a quest that would take him to the edge of modernity.
