“Expressive line” in the history of German and Russian graphics: From past to present

Abstract

In the present article, prompted by Anselm Kiefer’s exhibition in The Hermitage Museum, parallel trends in German and Russian 20th century graphics are analyzed. The role of German Expressionism in the history of graphic art is clarified. The author managed a comparative analysis of the works of German and Russian artists of the 1910s and 1920s, who worked with printed graphics. Excerpts from the articles of the leading Russian art critics of that period are cited, confirming the importance of comprehension of the concept of “graphics” (grafika) for Russian art theory. The role of Anselm Kiefer in the European art of the last quarter of the 20th century is viewed from the point of his conceptualization of artistic techniques and, in particular, the connection in his works of painting and printed graphics. The final conclusions of the article are connected with the rationale for further research into the phenomenon of the “parallel relationship” between Russian and German graphics.