Anxious Ones - El Lissitzky

A 1923 lithograph by El Lissitzky, featuring geometric, machine-like figures from his conceptual designs for the opera Victory Over the Sun.

This lithograph, titled Anxious Ones, originates from the 1923 portfolio Figurinen. Die plastische Gestaltung der elektro-mechanischen Schau 'Sieg über die Sonne'. El Lissitzky created these designs as a conceptual extension of the 1913 Futurist opera Victory Over the Sun. The work reflects the artist's interest in the intersection of human form and mechanical geometry, a hallmark of the Russian Constructivist movement.

The composition features two figures constructed from rigid, geometric planes. Lissitzky employs a restricted palette of grey, black, and muted orange to define the spatial relationships between the forms. The figures possess a robotic quality, with circular heads containing simplified, schematic facial features. These elements suggest a transition from traditional theatrical costume to a modern, machine-age aesthetic. The arrangement of the shapes creates a sense of precarious balance, mirroring the psychological state implied by the title.

Lissitzky intended these figurines to be realised as three-dimensional, articulated puppets. By reducing the human figure to its essential geometric components, he sought to create a new visual language for the stage. The lithographic process allows for clean, sharp edges and flat areas of colour, which align with the industrial precision favoured by the artist during this period. This print provides a clear view into the experimental nature of early twentieth-century European theatre design, where the boundaries between sculpture, performance, and graphic art were frequently blurred.