Constructivism

Constructivism, Russian art movement of the early 20th century that had an important influence on later schools of art. Constructivism was founded by Russian sculptor and painter Vladimir Tatlin. Its name derives from the “construction” of abstract sculptures from miscellaneous industrial materials, such as metal, wire, and pieces of plastic. Tatlin's relief constructions of 1913 to 1917 were the first works of the movement. He was joined before 1920 by artists Aleksandr Rodchenko, El Lissitzky, Naum Gabo, and Antoine Pevsner, among others.

Although the movement split into several factions in the 1920s, in general constructivism stood for the ideals of abstraction, functionalism, and utilitarianism. Utilitarianism, the dominant attitude toward art in the then newly born Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), held that art should be easily comprehensible and socially useful. Tatlin merged his constructivist dogma with that of the new Communist state and became a powerful and influential designer for the new order.

Constructivism had an important influence on mid-20th-century sculpture, architecture, and especially industrial design, where its advocacy of modern materials and clean design reinforced the emerging aesthetic of functionalism.