Art under Socialist Realism : Soviet painting, 1930-1950

136 Pages·1995·13.49 MB·English

by  Gleb Prokhorov

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AAT UNDER
SOCIALIST
AEALI OM

WITHDRAWN
HAT UNDER
SOCIALIST
REAL IOI
Soviet Painting 1930-1950
Gleb Prokhorov
CAAFISMAN HOUSE
G+B ARTS INTERNTAIONAL
Distributed in Australia by Craftsman House,
20 Barcoo Street, Roseville East, NSW 2069
in association with G+B Arts International:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany,
Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands,
Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom,
United States of America
Copyright © 1995 Gleb Prokhorov
All rights reserved
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for
the purpose of private research, criticism or reviews,
as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be
reproduced by any process without written permission.
ISBN 976 8097 83 3
Design Andi Cole Design
Cover Design Caroline de Fries and Nichola Dyson Walker
Printer Tien Wah Press Pte. Ltd, Singapore
CONTENTS
Art Under Socialist Realism: Soviet Painting 1930-1950 6
Notes 120
Bibliography 121
List of Illustrations 122
6C ATJan229
ALLEGHENY COLLEGE BIBRARY
early the whole history of Soviet culture was spent under the dictatorship of
ING Realism. Now that the dictatorship has collapsed, having in the end
lost its organising power and vital energy, an open curiosity about Socialist Realism,
especially its classical period of the 1930s to 1950s, has arisen. As with any other peep into
history, there is no longer any risks entailed; it is nonetheless intriguing, as if one were
talking with a former KGB general. Now that there is no necessity to play up to the
powers-that-be, or, on the contrary, scoff at ideology ‘oppositionally’, it seems feasible
to make a sound and objective evaluation of that epoch. Yet, as we come closer to that
period, plunge into the casuistry of its theoretical texts, look at the paintings and
monuments — which ng gradually disappearing — marvel at the pearls of literature
and poetry, we once again find ourselves ‘bewitched’ by Socialist Realism.
1. Vera Mukhina, The Worker
and the Farm-Woman, 1937,
Stainless steel