VI Lenin in Red Square near the Kremlin wall in front of a plaque installed in memory of the fallen for peace and brotherhood of peoples (by S. Konenkov). November 7, 1918

Art belongs to the people. Vladimir Lenin
There are ideas that capture the minds of the masses, become a symbol of social renewal of the world. They excite minds, destroy obsolete judgments, illuminate the way of struggle and work for people. These are the thoughts and deeds of Lenin. His name is a new era in the history of mankind. Live Leninist word transcended national borders, stirred the hearts and minds of the working people all over the world. The leader of the first workers’ state in the world paid constant attention to complex processes that took place in the artistic life of the young republic, to the arts as an important means of ideological and aesthetic education. “Art belongs to the people. It must leave its deepest roots in the very thick of the working masses. It should be understood for the masses and loved by them. It must unite the feelings, thoughts and the will of the masses and raise them. It should awaken artists in them and develop them.” These Leninist statements define the purpose of Soviet artist of serving people.
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Picasso by Masters of Soviet caricature Kukryniksy, 1961. Published by magazine “Crocodile”, USSR

Masters of Soviet caricature Kukryniksy – creative team of Soviet graphic artists – Mikhail Kupriyanov (1903-1991), Porfiry Krylov (1902-1990) and Nikolay Sokolov (1903-2000). They were full members of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1947), People’s Artists of the USSR (1958), Heroes of Socialist Labor. Their pseudonym “Kukryniksy” is made up of the first syllables of their names. Three artists worked by collective creativity (each also worked individually – on portraits and landscapes). The greatest popularity brought them numerous masterfully executed caricatures and cartoons, as well as book illustrations created in the typical style of caricature.
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Soviet artist Indulis Zarins (1929-1997). Soldiers of revolution. 1965

Latvian and Soviet artist Indulis Zarins (1929-1997) – member of the Union of Artists of the Latvian SSR (1960), member of the USSR Academy of Arts (1978). Member of the Communist Party since 1964. Winner of the Lenin Prize (1980), People’s Artist of the USSR (1986). People’s deputy of the USSR, honorary member of the Royal Academy of Arts. The work of Zarins is characterized by emphasizing the nuances, expressive color, contrasting colors. In the 1960s – 1970s, most notably the impact of the “severe style” themes of the paintings were mostly working people, builders of socialism, of the revolution and the Civil War. Also painted portraits, still lifes, transferred to canvas impressions of long-distance travel or read books. Often consciously went for the merger of genres. He has participated in exhibitions since 1956. The most famous works: “What a height!” (1958), a triptych “Soldiers of the Revolution” (1962-1965), “Blizzard” (1968), “Portrait of the artist Boris Berzins” (1964), “Kaspar and Kristaps” (1969), “Cubic Still Life” (1973), “Florence” (1967), “Rome” (1980), “Don Quixote” (1979), “Self Portrait” (1980), “Artist Leo Svemps in the studio” (1987), two cycles of paintings dedicated to the Latvian riflemen.
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Soviet warrior artist Vladimir Pereyaslavets (born 1918). Warsaw Pact. Oil. 1970

The painting “Warsaw Pact” shows soldiers of the socialist countries, standing under the banners of their armies, representing a reliable support of peace and happy creation of the fraternal peoples. In the military labor of the Soviet Army, he sees the guarantee of peace and protect, as the most precious and valuable on the Earth. Creativity of Soviet warrior artist Vladimir Pereyaslavets is inextricably linked with the army. People’s Artist of the RSFSR Vladimir Pereyaslavets – military officer, pilot and painter, whose life is connected with the art and the army. Vladimir Pereyaslavets (born November 22, 1918) – Soviet Russian painter, teacher, artist of studio of military artists of MB Grekov since 1950. Corresponding Member (1995), Academician of Russian Academy of Arts (2002), People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1980). Colonel of USSR Armed Forces, retired. Member of the Union of Artists since 1957.
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The works of students of the Leningrad Secondary Art School. Alexey Eryomin. The squad to Budyonny. Oil. 1938

Leningrad Secondary Art School (now St. Petersburg State Academic Art Lyceum of BV Ioganson of the Russian Academy of Arts) was the first in the USSR specialized secondary art school for gifted children. Creation of the first in the country’s secondary art school was a clear indication of the party cares about the future of the Soviet culture. This school was needed then (and today too) to provide a strong realist traditions in Soviet art. To change a decent education – those who will carry on in their creations memory of the people. Each graduated from Leningrad Art School carries the torch of high traditions of national art coming from the ancient times, from the beginning of the Russian Academy. Look at the pictures of school pupils. What distinguishes them? First of all, the depth of feelings, understanding of life, professional skills. After all, they are made by teenagers undoubtedly talented, but many have proven this throughout their further creative life.
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Soviet artists for Peace. USSR Poster by E.A. Kazhdan (Moscow). USSR – for negotiating, for limiting any weapons. 1981. Tempera on paper

Peace. Every day and hour in hundreds of languages ​​pronounce that word across the globe. For many in the Soviet Union, especially for young people and kids, this concept was something taken for granted everyday, existing, seemingly forever. The same as Mom and Dad, kindergarten, school, factory, or farm building, museum or theater. And ask any boy or girl: what Peace is? – He would probably say, when there is no war. Seniors, those who are now respectfully and lovingly called veterans, know and understand what peace on earth is. They are fully able to evaluate the meaning of the content of the word, because they remember what war is. Past through fierce battles and through unimaginable for human horrors of the Nazi death camps can definitely answer. Peace – is primarily a love for the country: the land where you were born and live in, and the air that you breathe, your people, their joys and sorrows, language and culture.
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June of 1941. Soviet painter Boris Ugarov (1922 – 1991)

“Art today – not only the scope of creativity, but also a field of intense ideological struggle” – these words belong to the Soviet painter Boris Ugarov. The life and career of Ugarov connected to the city on the Neva, and his pedagogical talent and expertise of more than 30 years were given to the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Repin. Boris S. Ugarov – one of the leading artists of the country, author of the famous epic canvases devoted to turning, the key moments of life of the USSR. Boris Sergeyevich Ugarov (1922 – 1991) – Ph.D., teacher, professor, President of the USSR Academy of Arts (1983-1991). Academician of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1978, Corresponding Member of 1973), People’s Artist of the USSR (1982), laureate of USSR State Prize (1985) and the RSFSR State Prize of Repin (1976). Member of the CPSU since 1983.
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