The disc and lid 1919

Alexander Rodchenko created 'The Disc and Lid', an oil on canvas painting, sometime in the early 20th century. Rodchenko was a key figure in the Russian avant-garde, and this work exemplifies the movement of Constructivism which emerged in Russia around 1915. Constructivism rejected the idea of art for art's sake. Instead, they put art in service of the communist revolution and the new Soviet society. 'The Disc and Lid' moves away from traditional representation, and embraces abstraction as a means of reflecting the industrial age. To understand this painting better, we can consult manifestos written by Constructivist artists, along with historical accounts of the Russian Revolution, and publications documenting the early Soviet era. This kind of research helps us see how art is embedded in broader social and institutional contexts. It is by exploring these connections that we can understand what the artist intended to communicate to contemporary audiences.