Introduction : The Vibrant Soul of Neo-Primitivism Ilya Ivanovich Mashkov (1881 – 1944) stands as one of the most distinctive voices within Russian avant-garde art, firmly rooted in the movement known as “Jack of Diamonds” (бубновый валет). More than just a painter, Mashkov embodied the spirit of his time—a tumultuous period marked by artistic experimentation and a fervent embrace of primal energy alongside influences from masters lik…