Iosif Solomonovich Shkolnik (1883–1926) was one of the founders of the Saint Petersburg association of groundbreaking artists “Soyuz Molodyozhi” (Union of Youth) and the association’s secretary throughout its existence. Apart from dealing with exhibitions, finances and other managing activities, Iosif Shkolnik participated in the publication of an anthology of the union, which became the first periodical magazine of avant-garde artists.

“Two Bouquets of Flowers” is one of the five lithographs by Iosif Shkolnik for the third issue of the anthology, which saw the light of day in March 1913. The print run was only 1,000 copies. The artist also designed the cover for this issue.

The schematic shapes in this lithograph reflect the stylistic preferences of Josef Shkolnik, which were formed in the early 1910s. He was fond of Fauvism and strove to simplify the forms and work with large patches of saturated pure colors.

Skeptical of the new art, critics were quick to ironize this transition from his original style. In his 1912 article “On the exhibition of the Soyuz Molodyozhi”, the critic Nikolay Breshko-Breshkovsky noted that “Shkolnik, who has up until recently painted pleasant landscapes, began painting as a ‘schoolboy’ [a play on words, as the artist’s surname translates from Russian as ‘a schoolboy’ — ed.]. And his landscapes, schematic and primitive, seem created by the hand of a child.”

Iosif Shkolnik also participated in the theater projects of the “Soyuz Molodyozhi”, including the “first Futurist theater in the world” in 1913. Together with Pavel Nikolayevich Filonov and with the help of Olga Vladimirovna Rozanova, he created the scenery and costumes for the tragedy “Vladimir Mayakovsky”. Mayakovsky played himself in this production.

Later, Iosif Shkolnik found a wide range of applications for his decorating skills. He became a professional scene painter and introduced the method of working with pure paints in scenography. The artist made decorations for revolutionary holidays and worked as a teacher in scenic and poster workshops.

Nikolay Nikolayevich Punin wrote the following about Iosif Shkolnik,