Ivan Bilibin

(1876 - 1942)

Salon d'Automne

Exposition de l'Art Russe

Paris: Salon d'Automne, 1906

175 x 134 mm. 144 pages.

Edition: unknown.

The cover of the catalogue by Ivan Bilibin, shows the Russian double-headed eagle. The design was based on ancient Kremlin tapestries and shows Bibilibin’s enthusiasm for the fairy-tale world of this ancient capital of Old Russia The foreword to the catalogue by Serge Diaghilev outlines his ideas of this exhibition: ‘It is a faithful image of the artistic Russia of our days with its respectful admiration for the past and its ardent belief in the future’. Alexandre Benois contributed a scholarly historic survey of Russian art to the catalogue. The exhibition was an unqualified success with its more than 750 exhibits. It was the first introduction of Russian art to the West and all famous artists were exhibited including the future Russian Avant-garde. Russian music playing in the hall enhanced the exhibition

References:

Bowlt 1982, pp. 169-71

Nijmegen 2004, p. 29

Brussels 2005, no. 3

Paris 2010, p. 11