Tatlin, Vladimir

Tatlin, Vladimir (1885-1953), Russian sculptor and painter. Although he began working in a figurative style, his later sculpture is abstract. While in Paris in 1913, Tatlin was inspired by Pablo Picasso's three-dimensional constructions of wood, paper, and other materials. On his return to Russia, Tatlin began experimenting with abstract relief sculpture utilizing industrial materials such as glass, metal, wire, and wood. This work, done between 1913 and 1917, led to the founding of Constructivism. Tatlin's interest in a sculpture of space and movement, applying engineering and architectural technology, culminated in his model for a huge Monument to the Third International (1919-1920, Russian State Museums, St Petersburg). This structure was to be about 400 m (1,312 ft) high and was to consist of a metal spiral frame tilted at an angle, enclosing three glass structures (in the shape of a cylinder, cone, and cube respectively) housing conference spaces; all three units were to revolve slowly at intervals. It was never built, however, because of later government policy against abstract art.