Realistic Manifesto

work by Pevsner and Gabo

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The "Realistic Manifesto" was a pivotal document in the development of Constructivism, co-authored by brothers Antoine Pevsner and Naum Gabo in 1920. Written by Gabo, the manifesto rejected earlier art movements like Cubism and Futurism, advocating for art that embraced space and time. It proposed a style of "constructed" art, utilizing modern industrial materials and emphasizing kinetic rhythms rather than static, sculpted forms. The manifesto served as a declaration of principles for their joint exhibition and marked a significant step in defining Constructivist aesthetics, influencing subsequent abstract art movements globally.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Antoine Pevsner
…the brothers issued the “Realistic Manifesto” (written by Gabo, and co-signed by Pevsner), in which they rejected Cubism and Futurism and argued that artists should embrace elements of space and time by employing constructed (as opposed to sculpted) mass and kinetic rhythms. Gabo outlined a style similar to the…
Read More
…the brothers issued the “Realistic Manifesto” (written by Gabo, and co-signed by Pevsner), in which they rejected Cubism and Futurism and argued that artists should embrace elements of space and time by employing constructed (as opposed to sculpted) mass and kinetic rhythms. Gabo outlined a style similar to the…
Read More