Hi, XVII Congress of the CPSU(b)

Ilya Mashkov • Painting, 1934, 100 cm
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About the artwork
Art form: Painting
Subject and objects: Still life
Style of art: Socialist realism
Technique: Oil
Materials: Canvas
Date of creation: 1934
Size: 100 cm
Artwork in collection: Smart and Beautiful Natalya Kandaurova
Artwork in selections: 9 selections

Description of the artwork «Hi, XVII Congress of the CPSU(b)»

The apotheosis of the worship of Stalinism, "hi, XVII Congress of the CPSU(b)", written in 1934. The description of the picture usually means "socialist realism". Indeed, Mashkov was not a dissident. Fill in the questionnaire he said: "from the first days of the revolution was the most active organizer", he studiously acquainted with "strong world", is extremely proud of the recognition from the authorities and forces took part in the dispossession of the "rich men" of his native village.

If we consider the painting as social realism, then everything is obvious. The proletarian red cloth, the leaders of the people, symbols of the harvest, in the background, five-pointed star, and where in pre-Soviet times could have been written "Save and protect" designated "greetings to the Congress." No reason to assume that the artist meant something else and that second meaning here intended by him – frankly, no. Creating in his homeland in the village of Mikhailovskoe, in the former Church "Building Socialist culture named after honored art worker, Professor I. I. Mashkov," he reports, "senior comrades": "DSK must inevitably reveal harmful for the revolution and socialist construction of the people."

But the creation has surpassed the Creator, and the talent was stronger than the vision of the artist. Today the descendants looking on "Soviet bread" see a different symbolism: the attributes of the Soviet regime can be eaten. And in a cluster of busts of the "chiefs and leaders", diluted so berries flowers (and we know that times are hungry, people are dying like flies) is a hint that let him and Stalin joined the "ordered to live long". Decorated with flowers and busts appear to be gravestones in a memorial day. If the painting was painted in current times, no one would be there is not the slightest doubt – postmodernism as it is.

Meanwhile, at the time the picture was taken favorably, to see the sarcasm and irony – what a free-thinking! – no one dared: one never knows, could be a sweep from the "enemies of the people" to please.

Author: Alain Esaulova
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