Natalia Goncharova

'Alexander Nevsky' from the portfolio 'Images of War'

About this artwork

Natalia Gonchorova played a vital role in the development of contemporary book illustration in Russia, with her first published work used as the cover for the 1910 Knave of Diamonds exhibition catalogue. In this final print in the Images of War portfolio, she recalls the image of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Prince of Novgorod.  A popular figure in Russian history, this medieval prince became a living legend after his military successes against the German Teutonic knights in the thirteenth century. He was therefore a natural choice for Gonchorova’s print series, which was a response to the outbreak of war with Germany. The series made effective use of Russian motifs to evoke a powerful and patriotic sentiment.

Updated before 2020

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Natalia Goncharova

Natalia Goncharova