nobleman who escaped to the front

Alexey Brodovitch was born to a wealthy family of Russian noblemen, his mother an amateur painter and his father a psychiatrist. After the Russo-Japanese War, the Brodovitchs moved to Russia. Alexey was enrolled at a prestigious institution in St. Petersburg aiming to join the State Academy of Arts later. Aged 16, he tried to join the Russian armed forces as a volunteer, but his father brought him back. Alexey ran away on several occasions and was eventually sent to an officers’ school.

Young Alexey Brodovitch in a white shirt and a black trousers looking into camera

Alexey Brodovitch before leaving Russia. Author unknown.

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i'm a can-opener. —alexey brodovitch about discovering talent in his students

Alexey Brodovitch sitting and working

Alexey Brodovitch, 1961. Gelatin silver print. Photo by Lida Moser. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

 

white émigré at montparnasse

After fighting in the Russian Civil War, Brodovitch emigrated to Paris. He found himself living in the Montparnasse, a neighborhood teaming with some of the most influential artists of the 20th century including, for instance, Marc Chagall and Alexander Archipenko. There he was exposed to a number of styles: Surrealism, Dadaism, Suprematism, De Stijl, Constructivism, and Bauhaus. Alexey decided to follow his passion to become an artist and began attending drawing and sculpture classes.

Paris, Montmartre, 1925. A vintage black and white postcard
Paris, Gare Montparnasse, 1920s. A vintage black and white postcard
Paris, Le Dome cafe, 1921. A black and white photography
Paris, Montparnasse, Hotel Odessa, 1920s. A vintage black and white postcard

Paris, Gare Montparnasse, 1920s. Vintage postcard.

Paris, Le Dome cafe, 1921.

Paris, Montmartre, 1925. Vintage postcard.

Paris, Montparnasse, Hotel Odessa, 1920s. Vintage postcard.

all designers, all photographers, all art directors whether they know it or not are students of alexey brodovitch.

—irving penn, photographer