Ivan Milev's late paintings
Especially in Ivan Milev's last artistic phase (1925 - 1927) the evolution of undefined forms, a rather rough line and the dominance of colour are to be noted. This turn from the stylistic expressions of Art Nouveau from the decorative period to pure, primitive forms reflects also his investigations into orthodox icon painting.
The denial of Academism is a particular aspect associating Ivan Milev with the Bulgarian modern art critics. A synthesised and decorative approach to art could not serve itself of realistic representation. The synthesis of style and the symbolism of the themes in the works of Ivan Milev shared with Bulgarian art critics like Geo Milev, Cavdar Mutafov or Sirak Skitnik the request for a new, universal language of art, as works like "Crucifixion" (1923) or "Our mothers are always dressed in black" (1926) show.
The art of Ivan Milev is the evidence of the belonging of his contientiousness and soul to his forefathers as well as to Modernism.
See some images of Ivan Milev's paintings below
 Monastery of Maglen [Paraklist na Mgliškija manastir, bulg.], 1925 tempera, bronze on paper, 42 x 29 cm City Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 37 |
 Village Madonna [Selska madona, bulg.], 1925 water-colour, tempera on paper, 40 x 61 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 1540 |
 Three Saints [Tri svetiteli, bulg.], 1925 water-colour on paper, 46 x 49 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 1389 |
 September 1923 [Septemvri 1923 godina, bulg.], 1925 water-colour on paper, 41 x 46 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. III 40 |
 Refugees [Bežanki, bulg.], 1925 water-colour on paper, 47 x 40 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. III 782 |
 Refugees [Bežanci, bulg.], 1925 - 1926 water-colour, guash on cardboard, 42 x 55 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. III 1235 |
 Black bread [Cernijat chljab, bulg.], 1926 water-colour, guash on paper, 46,5 x 55,5 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. III 788 |
 Krali Marko [Krali Marko, bulg.], 1926 tempera on paper, 56 x 34,5 cm City Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 1685 |
 Our mothers are always dressed in black [Našite majki vse v černo chodjat, bulg.], 1926 water-colour on paper, 58 x 86 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. III 13 |
|