Soviet Art

USSR coat of arms. Tea-glass holder for Soviet passengers, traveling by train, and one of the symbols of the railway. Legendary Soviet Podstakannik

Legendary Soviet Podstakannik
Traditionally, in the Ukrainian, Belarusian, Georgian and any Soviet republic’s trains the tea was served and drunk from glasses, not from cups. The stability of the glass on the table provided made of metal “podstakannik” that holds a drinking glass.
Meanwhile, the tradition of drinking tea from glasses and podstakanniks penetrated the life of ordinary families, and homes. Noteworthy, the history of podstakannik is inextricably connected with the history of the USSR. Chosen, in particular, an ideal advertising medium, billboard, and conductor of Soviet propaganda. There was no television yet, and for advertising used other subjects, mostly collectible things. Among them – podstakanniks and matchboxes, stamps and postcards, badges and porcelain figurines. Besides, each of them could not help but caught the eye of every Soviet citizen.
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Soviet American actress Anna Sten (December 3, 1908 – November 12, 1993)

Soviet American actress Anna Sten

When in 1935, French actor, cabaret singer and entertainer Maurice Chevalier (1888 – 1972) was asked to list the 10 most beautiful women in the world, he named Anna Sten, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, French actress Annabella, Loretta Young, Merle Oberon, Clara Bow, Kay Francis and others. In Hollywood, the mid-1930s Anna became famous for her ability to pick up clothes. American film producer and studio executive Darryl Francis Zanuck (1902 – 1979) said that she dresses better than anyone he had ever seen. A female director Dorothy Arzner (1897 – 1979) filmed Anna Stan in drama “Nana”, put her on a par with Garbo, Miriam Hopkins, Katharine Hepburn and Ruth Chatterton in his list of the most glamorous actresses. Soviet American actress Anna Sten was born Anna Petrovna Fesak, on December 3, 1908 in Kiev, the Russian Empire.
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80 years to the legendary 1936 Soviet film Circus

1936 Soviet film Circus
Right 80 years ago, May 25, 1936 on the first show in the Green Theater of Gorky Park in Moscow have gathered more than 20 thousand people. The administration was forced to use Moscow mounted police to keep order – all who wanted to watch the comedy film could not fit an open area for the audience. To say that the film enjoyed a huge, well-deserved success with the audience – to say nothing. The film was adored by many generations of Soviet people. Music from the film, created by outstanding composer Isaac Dunaevsky is known to every Russian, and the role of Mary is one of the best film works of great Diva of Soviet Hollywood – Lyubov Orlova. In 1937 the film was awarded the Grand Prix in Paris at an international exhibition, and in 1941 – the Stalin Prize.
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Glory to great Chinese People! Soviet poster artist Viktor Koretsky

Soviet artist Viktor Koretsky (1909-1998) is known primarily as a master of the political poster. He was the member of the Union of Artists, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1964). During his life he made about seven hundred drawings on various topics, especially – political. Viktor Koretsky began his education in Moscow – professional art school (1922-1929). In the late 20’s – early 30-ies he created a gallery of portraits of artists and actors. Since 1931 and almost to the demise of the Soviet Union, he was constantly working on political posters. Under the influence of creativity of John Heartfield and Gustav Klutsis developed its own technique of photo mosaics as a form of poster. Collaborated with publishers “OGIZ”, “IZOGIZ”, “Art”. In 1930 he worked as a decorator for a number of plays of the realistic theater of Nikolai Okhlopkov and theater-studio of Yuri Zavadsky. Almost fifty years he was a member of the editorial board of the publishing house “Reklam-film” (1939-1987).
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USSR Space Exploration posters

USSR Space Exploration posters

The era of the 60’s – a true flowering of the Soviet Union, the peak power of the Soviet state and the people. The post-war devastation was overcome in record time, but the euphoria and pride of the Great Victory is still felt by every Soviet citizen. The apotheosis of the achievements of the Soviet system was the space program, launch of the first in the history of mankind artificial Earth satellite and the first manned flight into space. Of course, the topic of space and the future development of distant galaxies has become very popular – including the art of visual agitation. Of course, you can call the current collection of posters on space themes “the Soviet propaganda machine product”, but in this particular case it is a rare example of a reflection of real feelings and sentiments of people of an era.
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First Soviet Stamps. Worker, Orange, green, carmine

The history of Soviet Stamps reflected changes in economics, society and culture of the Soviet Union. The First Soviet Stamps signed “Mail of the USSR”, which presented on all the stamps of the Soviet Union, were issued in August 1923. It was a series of four perforated and not perforated commemorative stamps on the opening of the first All-Russian agricultural and handicraft industrial exhibition. Sketches were made by artist G. Pashkov. Thumbnail Plots were as follows: “Reaper”, “The Sower”, “Tractor” and “General view of the exhibition.” Stamps were sold only in large cities. They were withdrawn from circulation 1 December 1923.
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Soviet Military Awards

Soviet Military Awards from Order of Lenin State History Museum. Principally new, radically different from the royal became Soviet premium system. The basis for its creation has prepared one of the first decrees of the Soviet Central Executive Committee and CPC (Council of People’s Commissars) dated 10 November 1917 “On the destruction of estates and civil ranks”, signed by Vladimir Lenin and Yakov Sverdlov. Premium system of the Soviet state did not emerge immediately. It developed gradually, and each new stage of the struggle against the enemies of the country and the building of socialism brought into this new system, complementing it. In the difficult early years of Soviet power red heroes were were given modest rewards – from a personal weapon and red trousers to simply thanks from the commander.
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