Rayonist Sausages and Mackerel (Larionov, 1912)

Mikhail Larionov was a Russian avant-garde artist who played a significant role in the development of modern art in Russia. He was born on 3 June 1881 in the city of Tiraspol, now part of Moldova. He studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where he met his future wife and collaborator, Natalia Goncharova. Larionov's early work was influenced by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, but he soon became interested in the avant-garde movements that were emerging in Europe at the time. In 1905, he and Goncharova founded the avant-garde movement known as Neo-Primitivism, which sought to incorporate elements of traditional Russian folk art into modern art. In 1910, Larionov and Goncharova moved to Paris, where they became part of an artistic community that included Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Henri Matisse. They also began to experiment with other avant-garde styles, including Cubism and Futurism. During the First World War, Larionov returned to Russia and became involved in the revolutionary movement. He created propaganda posters and organised exhibitions promoting the ideals of the new Soviet state. However, he soon became disillusioned with the Soviet regime and was forced to flee the country in 1922. Larionov spent the rest of his life in Paris, where he continued to produce art and exhibit his work. He died on 10 May 1964 at the age of 82. Today, Larionov is recognised as one of the most important figures in the development of modern art in Russia. His work continues to inspire artists all over the world.