Architectonic Composition

1919

Her husband dies; she herself falls gravely ill

Boris von Eding dies of typhoid fever; Popova is also seriously ill but recovers.

by late 1921

Joins the Working Group of Constructivists

Having stayed out of the Working Group of Constructivists when it was set up in Moscow in March 1921, she joins it by the end of that year.

1921

The “5×5=25” exhibition

She takes part in the “5×5=25” exhibition with Rodchenko, Varvara Stepanova, Alexander Vesnin and Alexandra Exter, each showing five abstract works. They declare that easel painting must be abandoned and all creative work given to the people and to the making of a new society.

1921–1924

Throws herself into Constructivist projects

From 1921 to 1924 she is entirely involved in Constructivist projects, sometimes with Varvara Stepanova, the architect Alexander Vesnin and Alexander Rodchenko: she designs stage sets, book typography, production art and textiles, and contributes dress designs to LEF. Her “Spatial Force Constructions” become the basis of her teaching theory at Vkhutemas.

1923

Designs fabrics for a textile printing works

She begins creating fabric designs to be manufactured by the First State Textile Printing Works in Moscow, and works briefly at the Cotton Printing Factory in Moscow with Varvara Stepanova.