The beginning of the 20th century is characterized by a break in academic traditions that have turned into a monolith. The borders of the empire, which opened up for the intelligentsia, the assimilation of the culture of the West made the art of Russia cosmopolitan. It was in these years that "isms" appeared. Symbolism, acmeism, ego-futurism, cubo-futurism, uturism, imageism, what is commonly called the "silver" age today. This century was not long, but extremely important in the history of Russian art.