Category Archive: Soviet Art

Antique figurine of the 50s, Dulevo

Dulevo porcelain factory – porcelain with Russian flavor

They say and write different things about Dulevo porcelain factory. That he could never surpass the aristocratic sophistication of the Danish Royal Copenhagen. It will not become as popular as Royal Worcester. It is unlikely that sets from Dulevo will ever get to the first positions of auctions and thousands of collectors will fight for them. But not all predictions need to be trusted.

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Self-portrait 1915

Mikhail Nesterov is an outstanding itinerant artist and master of the “soul of the people”

Mikhail Nesterov is an outstanding Russian itinerant painter, landscape painter and icon painter, a famous Soviet portrait painter.

Nesterov Mikhail created his own movement in painting “poeticized realism” and remained faithful to it, despite the revolution, the collapse of the country and the change of regime. During the period of itinerant movement, the painter’s work is filled with Orthodox mysticism. His paintings reflect the “special path” of God’s chosenness, a quiet charm with the beauties of Russian nature and the human soul.

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Self-portrait 1910

Biography of Kazimir Malevich

His father and mother were of Polish descent. They had 14 children, but only nine of the artist’s siblings survived to adulthood. Casimir, who was the eldest child, often traveled with his father in the service. For all his life, he remembered the beauty of Ukrainian nature and the hard life of the peasants.

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Malevich. Reapers

Artists-victims of Stalinist repression

History is an inexact, evaluative science: embellishment and dramatization of events in it is a common thing. But many scary stories about Stalinist repression are an exception. There was no targeted campaign to destroy “ideological enemies” (as in the case of writers) against artists – more often there were “local excesses”. But some famous painters were repressed, although the authorities tried to pass off their cases as criminal ones.

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Bulldozer Exhibition

Legend of the Soviet era: “Bulldozer Exhibition”

In the USSR, they did not respect creativity, and even more so, avant-garde creativity. The totalitarian conservative state wanted to completely control its citizens, and therefore every now and then tried to discern “ideological enemies” in them. Creative impulses did not presuppose any other means of expression than the officially approved ones. And talents were allowed to create only within certain limits and only after they acquired a bunch of permits and certificates of participation in all sorts of “unions” and the like … In general, they did not understand, they were afraid and fought. There were, of course, exceptions, but that is why they are exceptions.

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Designer Eva Zeisel and her contribution to the development of Russian porcelain

Eva Zeisel, née Striker, is an internationally renowned designer, ceramist and sculptor, born on November 13, 1906. However, she herself did not like the modern word “designer” and preferred to call herself “the creator of things”. Eva lived 105 years and continued to do what she loved until the last day. During her long life, she managed to work in Hungary, Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States, and left a noticeable mark in each of these countries. The dishes that came out of her hands are not just beautiful: they are both delicate and functional. Rounded cups and handles delight the eye with smooth lines and fit comfortably in the hand. You can imagine these products both in a museum and in your home kitchen.

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Sculptor A.P. Kibalnikov at work (creating monument to Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky). Oil on cardboard, painting by Soviet artist Vitaly Polyakov (1925-1997)

Soviet artist Vitaly Polyakov
Born 18 June 1925 in Saratov, Polyakov Vitaly Anatolyevich was a renowned master of socialist realism. Vitaly Anatolyevich graduated with honors from the Saratov Art School in 1948. After graduation 24-year-old artist moved to Riga, where he studied painting in the workshops of J.R. Tilberg and K. Butcher (1949 – 1954) in the Latvian Art Academy.
The artist began participating in group exhibitions of Soviet art in 1954. Traditionally, the artist painted landscapes and portraits in oil. Among his works – a portrait of the composer L. Ladova, a portrait of the actress N. Neznamova, series of landscapes of Crimea, as well as cityscapes, including Riga, Jurmala and other cities. According to sources, his personal exhibition took place only in 1986. The member of the USSR Union of Soviet artists, Polyakov had lived in Riga until his death in 1997.
Now his oil paintings decorate various museums and private collections both in Latvia, Russia, Germany, and the USA.
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