ONE PICTURE EXHIBITION

Lenin & Inspiration. 1959
250 by 300 cm, oil on canvas

Artist: Georgui Kuzmich Guk-Kravchenko

Born 1880, died 1968 (?)

    Studied in the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. Graduated 1913. Many of his works were purchased by a famous Russian fine-art collector Burtzev, who published the works from his collection in his Journal for the Few. Two issues were dedicated to the works of Guk-Kravchenko. Little is known about his life after 1914, archives indicate that he returned to USSR after a long stay in France, Soviet state was experiencing then a series of reforms by Nikita Kruschev. Both his emigration and return to the Soviet State were motivated by revolution in 1917 and rehabilitation processes under Krushcev. 

    Political climate stimulated growth of non-conformist and unofficial perception of reality. Complete change of attitude to previously glorified leaders is obvious in this peculiar work.This painting is comparable to monumental works of earlier totalitarian period, yet every nuance is inversed. Among thousands of works dedicated to Lenin over 70 years this work stands out. It is neither official, nor mocking, it conveys a very personal understanding of a communist leader and his drama. Such approch could not be understood during times of Kruschev and later during conservative Brezhnev rule. Artist died in the village on the outskirts of Moscow in 1968 (?), leaving us with his work which only now can be evaluated independently and objectively.

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