Theme of the Great Patriotic War in the fine arts of the 1950s–2000s from the collection of the Altai State Art Museum

Abstract

The article discusses the representation of the Great Patriotic War in Soviet and Russian fine arts during the second half of the 20th century from the collection of the Altai State Art Museum. The aim of this research is to identify the features of how the war theme is portrayed in artworks from the 1950s to the 2000s. These findings serve as the basis for the exhibition “War and Fates,” which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The research was conducted using artworks from sixteen artists, including painters, graphic artists, sculptors, and masters of decorative and applied art, all from the collection of the Altai State Art Museum. The iconographic method allowed the authors to identify the subjects and characteristics of the images. The iconological method was used to uncover the deeper meanings and connections between the works and the artists' personalities and the era in which they were created. The historical and cultural approach allowed for the exploration of biographical, historical, and cultural factors that influenced the representation of the heroic feat of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War in the works of the artists under consideration. The article provides a brief analysis of the main trends in the artists' works, including the emphasis on major tonality and pride for the Victory, the use of psychological elements in the images, and the symbolic and metaphorical solutions to the theme, which often transcend time and context. The article also examines the transformation of images, changes in pictorial and plastic language, and the development of thematic pictures. Finally, the article considers the exhibition “War and Fates” in the Altai State Art Museum as a potential form of presenting this theme.