Aleksandr Shevchenko (1883–1948) studied art at the famous Stroganov Art School in Moscow and later in Paris, where he was greatly influenced by the works of impressionists and post-impressionists, especially by Paul Cezanne. In 1910 Shevchenko joined a famous artists' group, the "Jack of Diamonds," and became interested in primitive art. In 1913 he wrote the book 'Neo-primiivizm', from which the Russian art movement derives its name. Aleksandr Shevchenko headed the Literary and Art Section of the Art Board in People's Commissariat for Education (1918 — 1921). Aside from these achievements, the artist taught at the Higher Art and Technical Studios (1918 — 1929). He was a member of the Makovets art group and the Moscow Artists Society. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he visited Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia and created a series of works on the oriental themes. From 1941 Aleksandr Shevchenko headed the Department of Painting at the Moscow Textile Institute. Today, Shevchenko is regarded as one of the most influential Russian avant-garde painters and theorists. Works by Shevchenko are kept in all major Russian museums and included in the permanent expositions of the State Tretyakov Gallery and State Russian Museum.