Аннотация: Aleksandr Deyneka "Conquerors of Tselina in the Crimea". A culturological essay.
Aleksandr Deyneka "Conquerors of Tselina in the Crimea". A culturological essay.
If in the paintings by Arkady Plastov (1893 - 1972) many young models have a sad expression on their faces, then in the paintings of Aleksandr Deyneka (1899 - 1969) - on the contrary. As a rule, young models on their faces (from the creativity of Aleksandr Deyneka) have complete satisfaction. For example, let's look at the painting "Pioneers of the Crimea" (1934) (or "Noon (Dream)" (1932), "In the South" (1966)). ["Пионеры Крыма" (1934) (или "Полдень (Сон)" (1932), "На Юге" (1966)]
The dominant feature of Aleksandr Deyneka's paintings is a physical and mental health, a physical beauty, a cheerfulness, an optimism, a well-being of the characters depicted.
In his paintings, I did not see scenes like a "[Process of] Potato picking" ["Сбор картофеля"] (1956 [1941]) - which can be found in the Arkady Plastov"s creativity ....
The heroes of most of the paintings by Aleksandr Deyneka - for example, such as "A vastness" ["Раздолье"] (1944), "Relay on the B Ring" ["Эстафета по кольцу "Б""] (1947) - do not at all look like people inclined to develop Tselina (the virgin and fallow lands).
They are all busy with important work ("To work, to build and not to whine! The path to a new life is indicated to us. You may not be an athlete, but you must be an sportsman"). ["Работать, строить и не ныть! Нам к новой жизни путь указан. Атлетом можешь ты не быть, но физкультурником - обязан"]
They are in excellent physical and psychological shape. They have beautiful clothes on. They have excellent prospects. On their faces there is no concern for everyday (or other) problems.
They have a lot of things to do at their main place of residence, and the going towards Tselina seems to be something superfluous for them.
However, the beautiful image of the State of the Soviets, presented in the paintings by Aleksandr Deyneka, gives rise to great enthusiasm, a penchant for labor impulses.
Whether Aleksandr Deyneka wanted it or not, the Soviet youth massively rushed to develop the Tselina (Virgin Land) (the period of 1954-1960 - in Kazakhstan, the regions of the Volga region, the Urals, Western and Eastern Siberia, and the Far East).
It would be natural to see a cheerful young people in the paintings by Aleksandr Deyneka, sparkling with smiles, evoking sympathy with their swift and beautiful bodies, with their excellent clothes - to see the young people of the Country of Soviets at the Tselina.
In those materials that I managed to read, there is no mention of the paintings by Aleksandr Deyneka about the Tselina.
I even admit that Aleksandr Deyneka did not directly urge anyone to go towards Tselina. (Who - in the case of leaving for Tselina - will fulfill the relay in Moscow, on the Garden Ring, near Tchaikovsky Street - along the B ring?).
However, I personally refer (conditionally) to the paintings about Tselina the "Landscape with a tractor" ["Пейзаж с трактором"] (1960s). In this picture there are fields, there is a tractor, but I did not see the youth.
Probably, hard work without holidays and without days off does not comply with labor legislation ... The Tselina enthusiasts - did they rest somewhere? ...
It would be quite natural to see young people from the Tselina (at least on vacation) in the Crimea.
Aleksandr Deyneka was very fond of Crimea. That's what people in the know say. This is confirmed by the artist"s works.
In almost all descriptions of the artist's creativity, there is a mention of the Aleksandr Deyneka's painting "In the Crimea" ["В Крыму"] (1956).
The development of the Tselina began in 1954. So a one of the enthusiasts who was mastering the Tselina could be found in the Crimea in 1956 (probably).
However, in the painting "In the Crimea" we see two pretty women of maternal age, not at all resembling young tractor drivers, and a boy of 7-8 years old. He also does not look like a tractor driver, enthusiast of Tselina ...
Naturally, a person is looking for where it is better. In Crimea, judging by the paintings by Aleksandr Deyneka, it"s not bad, especially during the holiday season.
If someone believed the Soviet masters of culture, who painted the wonderful life of wonderful people in a beautiful country, and if this someone rushed to labor achievements - somewhere to there, in romantic lands, for example, in Tselina (instead of Crimea), then Aleksandr Deyneka not to blame for this.
He is just one of many - one of those who (who were getting Moscow apartments and dachas near Moscow, as well as trips to the Crimea and abroad) - encouraged citizens to work achievements ...
Each of these masters of culture - individually - is not to blame for anything ... They glorified a physical beauty, a health, they gave positive color to everyday life ... Many people (artists are no exception) were sincerely confident in positive prospects.
Consumers of "cultural products" could be smarter and more prudent ... They could demonstrate more skepticism, insight and foresight ... (As they say in the common people: "watch your pockets").
Fish are looking where deeper is ...
[MMDCXXI. The painting "Christmas" by Arkady Plastov. A culturological note. - December 26, 2021.].
January 23, 2022 13:32
Translation from Russian into English: January 23, 2022 15:08
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Александр Дейнека "Покорители целины в Крыму". Культурологический очерк".
{ 2746. Александр Дейнека "Покорители целины в Крыму". Культурологический очерк.
MMDCCXVI. Aleksandr Deyneka "Conquerors of Tselina in the Crimea". A culturological essay. }