A Red Army Delegation in Kuznetsk (Pyotr Kotov, 1930s)
This painting, and the following work, are thematically part of the Social Realism genre, but, they are executed using a Neo-Impressionist style and palette, thereby making them more interesting than the usual run-of-the-mill hack-work examples of the class. Kotov does interesting things with light and colour not usually attempted in paintings of this sort.
Blast Furnace No. 1 in Kuznetsk (Pyotr Kotov, 1930s)
A Female Shock-Worker of the “Red Sormov” Works (Pyotr Kotov, 1936)
This work was painted at the height of the Stalinist purges, so, one cannot blame Kotov for playing it safe in his choice of subject-matter. Nevertheless, he employs his characteristic Neo-Impressionism rather than Socialist Realism, so, the work has some interest, and is saved from being a god-awful penny-dreadful.
“Learn, Learn, Learn!” (Yevgeni Katsman, 1952)
A Peace Demonstration (Yuri Yegorov, 1960s)
Here is some art from a well-established journeyman artist, taking him from his start in the 60s right up to today. One can see that the switch from Socialist Realism to neo-Impressionism (and Realism) started in the late Soviet period, so, the artistic movement preceded, not followed the political change. That is, society was changing, but, it was not visible to Westerners until the actual fall of the Communists in 1991.
Ergo, one can say that the days of the USSR were numbered, and that is, perhaps, why it fell so suddenly and without a whimper. Americans should take note of this, for the present-day US is as much of a “hollow state” as was the late Soviet Union. Take heed.
By the way, Russians are very sincere about peace. World War I, the Civil War, and World War II (the 2nd Great Patriotic War) had devastated the country in successive waves of violence. The people sincerely wish for peace. Interestingly, it is America, not Russia, that is exporting mayhem throughout the world today. No doubt, it is because the American homeland was not devastated in the great conflicts of the 20th century. This security has led to a hubris and an arrogance that shall bring this country down. God willing, it shall not require devastation to give us wisdom.
