Proun

Proun refers to a series of abstract artworks created by the Russian-born artist El Lissitzky between 1919 and the early 1920s. The term Proun is an acronym from the Russian PROekt NOVogo (Project for the New) and was used to describe works that sought to fuse painting and architecture. The Proun works were produced as paintings on canvas and as reliefs on wood, and they sometimes functioned as diagrams for architectural structures. They are characterized by dynamic diagonal elements, intersecting planes, and a sense of depth that challenges traditional two-dimensional painting. The compositions often employ limited color palettes—black, white, and red among others—and emphasize spatial relationships, movement, and construction.

Proun was a key strand of the Russian avant-garde's transition from Suprematism toward Constructivism, linking abstract painting to architectural thinking and urban space. The project aimed to rethink how space is organized and perceived, moving beyond static picture planes to more active, three-dimensional experiences. Proun influenced later European avant-garde currents, including developments at the Bauhaus and De Stijl, and remains a notable example of early 20th-century attempts to unify art, design, and space.