Soviet Art

Pereslavl-Zalessky. Children. 1963. Soviet painter Viktor Yefimovich Popkov (9 March 1932 – 12 November 1974)

Soviet painter Viktor Yefimovich Popkov was born in Moscow on March 9, 1932. Knowing the way of life of Soviet people in the first half of the twentieth century, you can imagine how difficult it was for one of the four peasant children to choose the way of creativity in life. And it was his mother, who seeing a sincere and serious interest of her son in painting, supported him in this endeavor. In the third grade, he began attending the art studio, located at the Podlipki plant named after Kalinin. Even then he had a clear goal – to learn to paint professionally and to make art his life’s work.
In 1948, Popkov enters the art and graphic teacher training college.
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Self-portrait. Oil on canvas. Soviet portrait painter Georgy Ryazhsky (12 February 1895 – 20 October 1952)

Soviet portrait painter Georgy Ryazhsky (12 February 1895 – 20 October 1952) – Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1944), Full Member of the USSR Academy of Arts (1949).
Georgy Ryazhsky was born February 12, 1895 in the village of Ignatievo of Moscow Province. In 1910-1915 he studied at the drawing classes Prechistenka evening courses, art studio of N. Komarovsky. In addition, he studied in the studio of M. Leblanc, R. Baklanov, and M. Severov. Besides, he took lessons in the studio of Anna Golubkina (1917). In 1918-1920 he studied at the State free art workshops of Higher Art, workshop of Kazimir Malevich. Already in 1922 Georgy Ryazhsky organized a group of New Society of Painters (VAW). He taught at drawing courses, and in 1929-1931 at the Higher Artistic-Technical Institute. Then he worked in the School of Memory of 1905, and since 1934 – at the Moscow Art Institute of Surikov (since 1940 – professor).
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Death to vile traitors (Donbass miner). 1937. The Story of one betrayal in caricatures of Mikhail Khrapkovsky, Soviet graphic artist (April 5, 1905 – February 17, 1959)

The Story of one betrayal in caricatures of Mikhail Khrapkovsky

Cartoons by Soviet graphic artist Mikhail Khrapkovsky (April 5, 1905 – February 17, 1959), depict, and even mock the political path of the Soviet party and state leader, Georgy Pyatakov (1890 – 1937). Besides, this is a series of cartoons created during the open Soviet trial of 1937. The main character of the cartoons – Georgy Pyatakov, who, alongside with others, was accused of conspiring with Trotsky, and connections with Parallel anti-Soviet Party Centre, aiming to overthrow the Soviet Government. And even more – in a conspiracy with the Nazis with the intent of seizing power in the Soviet Union, promising to reward the Germans with large areas of Soviet territory. On January 30, 1937, he was sentenced to death and executed. However, was rehabilitated posthumously (1988) during Gorbachev’s perestroika.
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Theatre Magazine Blue Blouse, dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the theater. Soviet agitprop theater Blue Blouse

Soviet agitprop theater Blue Blouse

Blue Blouse – Soviet theater of small forms, kind of campaign platform. It existed from 1923 to the beginning of the 1930s. For the first time established in Moscow at the Institute of Journalism, on the basis of a “living newspaper”; initially – theatrical troupe (the participants were working in a blue blouse – hence the name). The initiator of its creation, the author and one of the artists B.S. Yuzhanin. Soon appeared further 15 such groups. The subjects of their repertoire was topical, it combined the heroism and pathos, satire and humor. Program of Blue Blouse was built mainly on a collective recitation, folk songs and sport dances. Blue Blouse team performed in “Red corners”, clubs, shops of factories. Similar groups sprang up in other cities, serving as a basis for the creation of a number of professional theaters and giving impetus to the search for new forms of theater and variety of performances. In the Blue Blouse began creative work many Soviet writers, composers, actors, directors and artists. Besides, several groups of Blue Blouse toured abroad (Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, and China), influencing the theater movement in different countries.
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Firstborn. 1963. Oil on canvas. Painting by Soviet artist Nikolai Ovchinnikov (14 October 1918 – 18 February 2004)

Soviet artist Nikolai Ovchinnikov can be called a pillar of socialist realism in art of Chuvash republic. With all his achievements and contradictions. His 1950-1960s paintings always impressed contemporaries with picturesque worshiping of ordinary workers and the powers, nature and heroes transforming it.
graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Repin in 1951, the studio of R. Franz. Candidate of Arts (1955). Among his honors – People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1984) and the Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1968). He was Professor, Head of the Department of Fine Arts of the Chuvash State Pedagogical Institute. The long-term chairman of the Union of Artists of the Chuvash ASSR. Member of the Board of the Union of Artists.
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May Day in the village in 1930s. 1969. Soviet Bashkir artist Akhmad Lutfullin

Soviet Bashkir artist Akhmad Lutfullin born in the village Askarovo, Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Republic, February 4, 1928. As a boy he went on foot to Magnitogorsk, and began to study at a vocational school to become the turner. However, after the war, in 1945 he entered the Leningrad Architecture and Art School. After graduation from the institute, he continued his artistic skills at the Ufa theater and art school. In addition, he studied at Vilnius State Art Institute of the Lithuanian SSR (1951-54).
Akhmat Lutfullin – Member of the USSR Union of Artists (1960), Honored Artist of BASSR (1966), Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1978) and Member of the Russian Academy of Arts (1997). He was an elected member of the board of the Union of Bashkir artists. Besides, he was a chairman and member of the Art Council of the Bashkir workshops of RSFSR Art Fund, and a board member of Artists Union. Also, Lutfullin was a member of the Audit Commission of the Union of Artists.
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Diploma students. Painting by Soviet artist Vitaly Mayboroda 1954-1992

Soviet artist Vitaly Mayboroda born February 4, 1954 in Solntsevo (Moscow region). He was interested in art since childhood, and painted a lot. He loved to go hiking, as he said himself, it was his inspiration. In his youth he studied painting in the drawing club at the Moscow Palace of Pioneers. His work attracted the attention of experts, as they differed it from the others by its originality, realism and a deep thought. Many experts predicted him a great future in the arts, as noticed the presence of talent. In 1971, he entered the Moscow State Academic Art School in memory of 1905.
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