Theatre (Russia)
There is a close link between lubok and folk theatre: the same satiric figures and canons. Scenery reminds a sheet of popular folk print because of the combination of a picture and a word. In the XIXth century one of the types of folk theatre appeared: they showed funny pictures accompanied with merry rhymes. The first "theatrical" caricatures showed maskers and jesters in funny positions and situations. In Russia, under Peter the Great, lubok made fun of tsarist theater. In 1812 Russian authorities fought against everything connected with France, and theatre as well. A great Russian painter A. Venetsianov reflected this process in his drawing "French actresses are driven out of Moscow". In 1830s theatrical caricature was widely spread in connection with the publication of "Leaflet for Society" by V. Timm, later of the "Eralash"("Jumble") magazine by M. Nevakhovich. In a great number of caricatures the artist ridiculed unsuccessful performances, failed directors, and sleeping audience. The first caricatures of famous actors appeared in "Eralash", then different caricaturists published their drawings. In 1868 a collection of parodies and caricatures "New Russian Theatre" was issued. A widely-read magazine "Budilnik" ("Alarm Clock") paid much tribute to theatre, whether it was the first night, a meeting of theatrical society, Shalyapin's performance, or a tour of any foreign celebrity. At the end of the XIXth and the beginning of the XXth centuries theatrical caricatures appeared in the "Theatre and Art" and "Jester" magazines.

In 1907 V. Meyerhold staged "Human Life" by L. Andreev in Komissarzhevski Theatre, just after the first night Troyanski's caricature appeared, the same happened after V. Meyerhold's presentation of "Don Juan". Caricaturists organized a kind of competition in ridiculing the cast of K. Stanislavsky's show of "Blue Bird" by Meterlink.

Almost in every issue of "Satiricon" from the very beginning of its publication, Re-Mi pictured every event in the world of theatre with great humour, then he collected all his caricatures in the book "Theatre". Humorists could not but also ridiculed M. Gorky and his works, the writer was described as vagabond. In 1908 one of the issues of "Satiricon" was completely devoted to theatre.

N. Evreinov's theatre "Distorting Mirror" was the source of a great number of caricatures, its performances were based on absurd, grotesque, and unlimited satire. Literary cafe "Brodyachaya Sobaka" ("Stray Dog") and cabaret "House of Interlude" were also ridiculed. One can learn the history of this "theatre of smile" with the help of caricatures of S. Sudeikin, N. Altman, A. Radakov, N. Kulbin, G. Vereisky, and others.

Undoubtedly, the caricaturists loved theatre and took part in making scenery of some performances, for example, I. Malyutin, who began his career as a caricaturist in the "Rampa and Zhizn" ("Footlights and Life") magazine, worked in Zimin's theatre.


4. D. Moor. Caricature of V. Kachalov.


6. Tem. Caricature of A. Bakhrushin.


9. I. Grandi. Caricature of S. Sudeikin ("Stray Dog" playbill) 1913.


2. A. Lyubimov. Caricature of V. Stasov, the critic, and I. Gitsburg, the sculptor. 1904.
1. Groom and Match-maker. Lubok. XVIIIth century


7. Mak. Caricature of I. Rubinstein. 1913.

8. I. Grandi. Caricature of N. Kulbin. 1913.


3. P. Troyansky. At the party of a
man. Caricature of L. Andreev.
1908. Detail.
5. D. Moor. Don Quixote from Novinsky Boulevard. Caricature of


By Dmitry Moskin
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