Lazar Lissitzky

Lazar Markovich Lissitzky was a Russian artist who was an important figure of the Russian avant-garde. Besides an artist he was also a designer, photgrapher and typographer and architect. Together with his mentor Kazimir Malevich, El Lissitzky as he was more known helped to develop suprematism. They also designed a big number of exhibition desiplays and works regarding propoganda for the Soviet Union.

Bauhuas and constructivist movements were immensly inspired by his work.
El Lissitzky liked to experiment with technique and style. By doing this he created stylitic devices that dominated graphic design in the 20th century.

When he first started painting he developed a style where he made use of abstract geometric shapes. He called these shapes 'prouns' and they were developed in a 3-dimensional space. These frequently consisted of various perspectives which contrasted with the notion of suprematist theories which emphasized the simplicity in shapes and the use of just 2D space.

In 1920 he spent time in Germany where became a cultural representative of Russia. Although he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis Lissitzky never stopped working. He continued with his mission, producing propaganda posters, books, buildings and exhibitions. Lissitzky remained head of exhibitions however unfortunately he was overcome by his tuberculosis and died in 1941.

1919 propaganda poster "Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge".

Bibliography 

Design Is History. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.designishistory.com/1920/el-lissitzky/.