Soviet Art

Perhaps, the most famous poster of the USSR period “No to alcohol!” (1954). Soviet graphic artist Viktor Ivanovich Govorkov (18 November 1906 – 13 June 1974)

Soviet graphic artist Viktor Ivanovich Govorkov
Born on November 18, 1906 in Vladivostok, Viktor Ivanovich Govorkov was a bright representative of Soviet Art. Member of the USSR Union of Artists, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1971). Known, first of all, as the author of numerous propaganda posters on various themes. In particular, foreign and domestic politics, sports, fighting alcoholism and hooliganism. Worked in the field of journal and newspaper cartoons, and book graphics.
Viktor Ivanovich Govorkov studied in Moscow VKhUTEIN from 1926 to 1930. Noteworthy, his teachers were prominent Soviet artists – SV Gerasimov, DS Moor and VA Favorsky. His thesis work was a sketch of a panel for the decoration of Red Square by May 1 (1930). Having started as a painter, Govorkov, however, later worked exclusively in book graphics and a poster.
Read more »

G. Orlova. Tapestry. Festive Moscow. Wool, handwoven. 1977. Soviet Decorative art

Soviet Decorative art
Originated in folk art, Soviet applied art flourished in the USSR, both in the midst of the people and among professional artists. Traditionally, every museum in every city had a permanent exhibition of unique works worthy of museums. In particular, porcelain and glass vases, ceramic and porcelain figurines and compositions. Also, textile art, popular and especially loved – tapestries and carpets, traditional elements of the Soviet interior.
Meanwhile, the craftsmen paid special attention to improving the artistic quality of mass household items. In the field of ceramics, many Soviet artists have successfully worked in Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.
Exhibitions of Soviet decorative art certainly included the best examples of art glass products, artistic carvings on the bone, embossing on the skin and jewelry.
A special place in the Soviet arts and crafts occupied the lacquer miniature, Palekh, Kholui and Mstera. In addition, embroidery and lacework. Also, the finest carved articles made of bone, an expressive small sculpture made of bone, horn, stone, etc., created by the Kholmogorsky, Tobolsk, Chukchi and other masters.
Read more »

As Masha, “Russian business”. 1993 film. Soviet Russian actress Irina Feofanova

Soviet Russian actress Irina Feofanova

Born on April 18, 1966 in Penza in the family of hereditary builders, Irina Feofanova is a Soviet Russian actress. The Feofanov family lived in Penza until 1979, and then moved to Moscow. Irina began to study in the sixth grade of one of the capital’s schools with a biological bias. Noteworthy, Irina graduated from the school in 1983 with honors and, on the advice of her parents, entered the construction institute – MISI named after Kuibyshev. And then a story happened to her, very similar to what once happened to Vladimir Vysotsky. He, too, at the insistence of his parents, began to study at MISI, but survived only a year, after which he moved to the actors. Irina herself, despite her inherent shyness, always secretly dreamed of acting profession. So, in six months she left the instite for the Theater Studio at Usachevka, and focused entirely on studying in the studio. There she played a major role in the play by E. Radzinsky “She is in the absence of love and death.” And not to ‘sit her parents’ neck”, she worked as a postwoman.
Read more »

Self-portrait in make-up. Soviet Avant-garde artist Dmitry Krasnopevtsev (2 June 1925 – 28 February 1995)

Soviet Avant-garde artist Dmitry Krasnopevtsev

Born 2 June 1925 in Moscow, talented graphic artist Krasnopevtsev was a representative of “unofficial” Soviet art. Besides, one of the most significant representatives of Soviet nonconformism of the second half of the twentieth century, and the Second Russian Avant-garde.
His first works date back to the post-war era, and the style that made Krasnopevtsev a truly original artist was formed by the early 1960s. Characterizing this style, critics use the term “metaphysical still life”.
He began his studying fine arts in 1942 in the Moscow Regional Art College in memory of 1905. However, in 1943, like many of his contemporaries, he had to to go to the front. After the WWII ended, he graduated from college. Then he worked as a drawing teacher in high school, and in the period from 1949 to 1955 he again studied, but already at the Moscow State Art Institute of VI Surikov.
Read more »

From the height of the port crane. 1974. Soviet artist Rudolf Nikolaevich Baranov

Soviet artist Rudolf Nikolaevich Baranov
Born January 1, 1942 in the village of Khvostsovo, Vladimir region, Baranov is a Soviet Russian monumental artist, painter and teacher. Member of the Union of Artists of the RSFSR (1976).
First he received art education at the Palekh Art College of the lacquer miniature of Maxim Gorky (1959-1964). Here, his teachers were such Soviet artists as N. Zinoviev, B. Nemtinov, V. Astakhov and P. Korin. Next, studying at the Surikov Art Institute, he turned into a great master of painting with an individual creative handwriting. Merchant Samara, where he still works, Volga, family, people of intelligent work – this is the soil that feeds the creativity of Rudolph Nikolaevich.
In 1971 he graduated from the Faculty of Monumental Painting of the Moscow State Art Institute of Surikov (teacher KA Tutevol). Noteworthy, his first diploma he received from the hands of prominent Soviet artist Nikolai Tomsky for the painting “From the height of the port crane” (1974), which became a classic of Soviet art.
While still a student, he worked as an artist decorator in the theater of Vakhtangov.
Meanwhile, in 1971 he came to Samara. Repeatedly, he was a Chairman of the Board of the Samara Regional Organization of the USSR and Union of Artists of Russia (1981-1985, 1998-2010). In addition, he taught at the Kuibyshev Art School and the Art College of KS Petrov-Vodkin (Samara). Since 2006 – Professor of Samara State Architectural and Construction University.
Read more »

One of the most beautiful women of the time, Soviet theater and film actress Kyunna Ignatova (26 September 1935 – 21 February 1988)

Soviet theater and film actress Kyunna Ignatova
Born on September 26, 1935 in Moscow, in the family of a ballerina and an academician, Kyunna Ignatova was half Sakha (Yakut). Although given the name Galina at baptism, officially she was registered as Kunna, which means “sunny” in Yakut. However “sunny” name did not work that name – her creative career was neither bright nor sunny: there were too many “clouds” in her life, and as a result – an early death.
In the summer of 1953, after graduating from the ten-year school, Kyunna Ignatova entered the Shchukin Theater School, the course of Cecilia Mansurova (later another teacher – Iosif Rapoport). Already a year after entering the school Ignatova received a role. It was Leonid Gaidai who found the actress for the role of Lyana, or Lenutsia in the film “Lyana”.

Frankly, the film did not become a revelation, but what’s important is that thanks to the film Gaidai and Ignatova became friends. And two years later they met again on the same set. And this time Gaidai acted as the main director, and Ignatova was again the performer of the main role. It’s about the film “Long Way”, which became the directorial debut of Gaidai.
Read more »

Was there Carotin? 1989 film directed by Gennady Polok. Soviet Russian actress Elena Bushueva-Tsekhanskaya

Soviet Russian actress Elena Bushueva-Tsekhanskaya
Born on January 26, 1960, Elena Bushueva-Tsekhanskaya – the famous dubbing actress. In fact, everyone in the Soviet Union knew and loved her voice, which literally hypnotized everyone. However, few knew her face. And the riddle is simple. She was the voice of the first Brazilian TV series shown in the USSR (16 October 1986).
In fact, “Slave Izaura” was incredibly popular among Soviet people. Firstly, the positive heroine was an honest, unhappy and oppressed girl (voiced by Elena Bushueva). Secondly, it stigmatized slavery. And third, it was the first soap opera in the USSR.
Meanwhile, specially for the USSR, the telenovela was re-assembled into a format more customary for the Soviet viewer – 15 series for 60-70 minutes. The first 5 series of the television series appeared on Central Television on October 16-20, 1988, the sequel – February 26 – March 7, 1989. And in September 1990, at the request of viewers, the Central television repeated the series.
Read more »