Russian Art
Grigoriev, B. D.
"Portrait of Vsevolod Emilievich Meyerhold, Detail". 1916
Notes: Detail from "Portrait of Vsevolod Emilievich Meyerhold (1874-1940)".
Boris Grigoriev's "Portrait of Vsevolod Emilievich Meyerhold (1874-1940)" can be related to the revival of theater in turn-of-the-century Russia. Meyerhold, a student of Stanislavsky, the great and innovative teacher of dramatic art, came to prominence in the first decades of the century. In 1906, he was invited to Moscow by the celebrated actress, Vera Komissarzhevskaya, to direct her Dramatic Theater. There, he specialized in plays by Symbolist writers, including the poetic dramas of Alexander Blok. Meyerhold was perhaps best known for his novel stage sets, using special effects such as silver lace and sets composed of a single color in different shades to startle audiences.
