Alexander Arkad'Evich Labas
Early Life and Artistic Foundations
Alexander Arkad'evich Labas, a name perhaps less immediately recognizable than some of his Avant-Garde contemporaries, nevertheless occupies a vital position in the narrative of 20th-century Russian art. Born on February 19, 1900, in Smolensk, Russia, Labas’s early life was marked by loss; the death of his mother cast a long shadow over his childhood and perhaps contributed to an introspective nature
that would later manifest in his uniquely imaginative work. He began formal artistic training at the remarkably young age of six, demonstrating an innate aptitude for visual expression. This precocious talent led him to Moscow’s prestigious VKhUTEMAS – the Higher Art and Technical Studios – a crucible of innovation where he came under the tutelage of giants like Kazimir Malevich, Vassily Kandinsky, and Aristarkh Lentulov.
The influen…
