Soviet Art

USSR Culture

USSR Automotive Industry

USSR Automotive Industry. March 16, 1936 - in the USSR at the Gorky Automobile Plant was produced the first Soviet passenger car M-1

USSR Automotive Industry. March 16, 1936 – in the USSR at the Gorky Automobile Plant was produced the first Soviet passenger car M-1

The Soviet Union journal sometimes published articles about the different types of cars and trucks, produced in the USSR. Articles were accompanied by photographs showing the production of cars at the Soviet factories. The USSR Automotive Industry can be rightfully called a child of the Soviet power. In tsarist Russia there was no automobile, except for attempts to organize the production of passenger cars in the Russian-Baltic Shipyard – attempts that ended in failure: over 6 years this company produced 450 cars …. Thus, the Soviet Union has created a new industry, that already in 1937 produced more than 200 000 vehicles, ahead of the production of trucks in England, France, Germany.
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Soviet artist Nikolai Osenev

October in Smolny. Soviet artist Nikolai Osenev

October in Smolny. Oil on canvas. The State Tretyakov gallery. Soviet artist Nikolai Osenev (1909-1983)

October in Smolny. Soviet artist Nikolai Osenev has reproduced the scene of meeting Lenin with the soldiers of the revolution – the workers, soldiers, sailors in Petrograd, at the entrance to the Smolny, which in 1917 became the headquarters of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Soviet artist Nikolai Osenev (1909-1983) – Honored Artist of the RSFSR, Honored Worker of Culture of the Polish People’s Republic, landscape, genre painter, an author of works on historical and revolutionary themes. Nikolai Nikolaevich Osenev was born in 1909 in Moscow. He studied at the Moscow State Art Institute of Surikov (from 1938, with interruptions). His teachers were S. Gerasimov, Igor Grabar, AA Deineka. Nikolai Osenev – participant of art exhibitions since 1949. Since the beginning of the 1950s was active in the open air. By the mid-1950s he became known master of composite landscape. In 1960s he traveled abroad (England, Italy, France, Sweden, Iraq and others) and created a series of works, mainly architectural motifs. His works are in the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow; Penza art gallery and other museums and private collections.
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Soviet artist Vasily Pogorelov

Soviet artist Vasily Pogorelov. Industry. Toned Plaster 1935

Soviet artist Vasily Pogorelov (1895 – 1980). Industry. Toned Plaster 1935

In the days of October, in the turbulent revolutionary period, he was little more than twenty years old. By today’s standards it’s still young age. And then behind the young man was already serious enough life experience, difficult biography, closely intertwined desire to become an artist, and the need to earn for a living. Soviet artist Vasily Pogorelov (1895 – 1980) was born in a large family. Early lost his father. The mother could not feed her five children, and Vasily had to work. A twelve year old teenager, he already worked 16 hours a day at the tobacco factory – as an adult. From the strong exhaustion and malnutrition he became seriously ill. And, of course, recovered, stronger, found the strength to live and to dream.
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Soviet Russian actress Marianna Vertinskaya

Soviet Russian actress Marianna Vertinskaya

Soviet Russian actress Marianna Vertinskaya

There is some kind of magic and mysterious charm in the past 1960s of the USSR, its cinema and art. Call it what you like, but it’s true. There are actors (they are quite a bit), who themselves are regarded as a work of art. Look at Soviet Russian actress Marianna Vertinskaya – beautiful woman, the daughter of a famous father. Congenital artistry, incomparable elegance on stage and in life. And yet – sparking excitement and wonder of live blue eyes. Most famous men of the time knelt down confessing their love for her – Andrey Tarkovsky, Andrey Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky, artist Lev Zbarsky, operators Georgy Rerberg and Alexander Knyazhinsky, architect Ilya Bylinkin, actor Boris Khmelnitsky, and more. Icon of style of the 1960s, Marianna Vertinskaya was born into a family of a famous chanson singer Alexander Vertinsky and Lidiya Vertinskaya – film and theater actress. The name Marianna was given to her by her mother after she had watched a Hollywood movie of Robin Hood, where Robin Hood’s beloved was called Marianna. Coincidentally, later one of the Marianna’s husbands – Boris Khmelnitsky played the role of Robin Hood in the Soviet film.
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Soviet Union political posters

Soviet Union political posters. For Peace, Unity, Social Progress

Soviet Union political posters. For Peace, Unity, Social Progress

Soviet Union political posters
Monumental propaganda was truly unprecedented phenomenon in the history of world culture. In the first years after the civil war propaganda pathos permeates all types and genres, including art and crafts. However, an important role in shaping the social and aesthetic consciousness of the revolutionary people can play and play arts, capable of living on the streets. Therefore, active development, along with the monumental sculpture was a political poster, which at that time was the most mobile and the most expeditious.
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Soviet children life rule posters

Soviet children life rule posters. 1926 poster 'Down with the beating and punishment of children in the family'. Artist A. Fedorov

Soviet children life rule posters. 1926 poster ‘Down with the beating and punishment of children in the family’. Artist A. Fedorov, USSR

In the Soviet Union a leading role in the upbringing children was undertaken by the state, the school and the society was given priority over the family, which, however, also played an important role. Already in 1920 the Soviet state carried out a real educational revolution, a symbol of which has become “the system of Makarenko”, recognized by UNESCO as one of four teachers, who determined the method of pedagogical thinking in the twentieth century. The new education system was based on the scientific and humanistic principles, it has been focused on the formation of harmoniously developed personality of the child, his active life position, social responsibility and work habits. One of the main problems of Soviet pedagogy was the eradication of child abuse in the family, the physical impact was recognized absolutely unacceptable. West countries come to this much later.
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Great October Revolution Coins

Great October Revolution Coins. jubilee coin 1917-1977

Great October Revolution Coins. jubilee coin 1917-1977

For more than two centuries of history of the Russian monetary system did not exist or wasn’t custom to mint commemorative coins. The few editions dedicated to some historical events, such as memorial rubles in memory of the 100th anniversary of the War of 1812, or the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, or 200th anniversary of Gangut victory are very rare. Banknotes and coinage of the Soviet state didn’t mint commemorative coins either. The tradition of minting commemorative and jubilee coins began only in 1965, when was commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany – metal rubles with the image of the monument in Berlin’s Treptow Park, created by Vuchetich. Since then appeared the whole series on a particular theme, such as “Monuments of the Motherland”, or The Great October Revolution Coins. This series began, perhaps, in 1924: then went into circulation silver ruble and fifty kopeks, the symbolism of which fits into the theme of the October, and reflects the ideas proclaimed by the revolution.
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