The article describes the cultural context of the evolution of national fine arts in the 20th century. The character of the art of this period is heterogeneous, varied and reflects various sources of influence in the process of formation. Art from the first half of the century. The 20th century knows two vectors of development – 1) “Eastern”, based on the Russian school and 2) West-European, of a modernist nature. In the present study, the focus is on the “western” direction that strongly influenced RomanianBessarabian artists from the beginning of the 20th century. The visual artists from Bessarabia had the opportunity, until 1940, to familiarize themselves during their studies in the big cities of Europe (Paris, Rome, Munich, etc.) with the styles and principles of Western art, which they later implemented in their own creation. The most representative artists who had their studies in the great European cultural centers are: M. Petrașcu, N. Arbore, A. Baillayre, Șn. Cogan, M. Cogan, E. Maleševschi, C. Cobizeva, L. Dubinovschi, M. Gamburd, V. Rusu Ciobanu, M. Grecu, A. Negura, I. Platon etc. The artists synthesized the knowledge obtained abroad, creating original plastic works through which they diversified the aspect of national plastic art.
