Larionov, Mikhail Fedorovich (1881–1964)

Russian painter. He was active in Paris from 1919. With his wife Natalia Goncharova, he pioneered a semi-abstract style known as Rayonnism in which subjects appear to be deconstructed by rays of light from various sources. He is best remembered for his childlike Soldier series 1908–11, which was heavily influenced by Russian folk art. Larionov also produced stage sets for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes from 1915. In Paris he continued to work as a theatrical designer and book illustrator.