Stylistic features of Ivan Milev's paintings
Ivan Milev explored three styles in his art, each of which contributed to the development of European Modernism: Symbolism, Art Nouveau and Expressionism. He used these styles in his art to give voice to fundamental human truths.
Milev's paintings show four main characteristics: symbolism, decorativity, expression and expressivness. These elements concord with the demands Bulgarian modern art crtitics like Geo Milev or Cavdar Mutafov made for creating a new Bulgarian art.
The contents of the early works (1916 - 1920) of Ivan Milev refer to symbolist themes - a link to his own literary works and the literary preferences in Bulgarian society of the period. Stylistically the influence of Art Nouveau is visibal in the synthetic forms, decorativity and flatness of his art. The line represented the base of his decorative style of the first and second period (1920 - 1925) of his art.
See some images of Ivan Milev's work below
 The old street [Stara uliza, bulg.] 1921 water-colour, ink on paper, 7 x 9,5 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 1539 |
 Desperation [Otčajanie, bulg.] 1923 tempera, bronce on paper, 44,5 x 61 cm City Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 34 |
 Crucifixion [Razpjatie, bulg.] 1923 tempera, bronze on cardboard, 69 x 55 cm City Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 36 |
 Witchcraft [Vračuvane, bulg.], 1924 water-colour, bronze, guash on cardboard, 28,1 x 41,4 cm National Art Gallery Sofia, Inv. Nr. 1470 |