Table of contents:
- "Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581", Ilya Repin, 1885
- "The Ship of Help" and "Distribution of Food", Ivan Aivazovsky, 1892
- "What is Truth?", Nikolay Ge, 1890
- "Pogrom", Vasily Silverstov, 1934
- "Mystery of the XX century", Ilya Glazunov
Video: Forbidden art: 6 paintings that at different times became victims of censorship
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Art was censored not only in Soviet times. During the time of tsarist Russia, works of fairly famous artists were banned. The reason for the refusal to demonstrate a work of art could be simply a truthful depiction of events or, on the contrary, an extraordinary interpretation of them. Sometimes it is difficult to believe that real masterpieces of fine art fell under the censorship.
"Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581", Ilya Repin, 1885
The idea of writing a historical picture originated from the artist in 1881 under the impression of two events: the assassination of Alexander II and the listened to Rimsky-Korsakov's music "Revenge". Two years later, the artist saw a bullfight in Spain and was completely discouraged by the sight of blood. Then work began on the painting itself, which was completed 4 years later. The painting was highly appreciated by critics and artists, but Tsar Alexander III, on the contrary, caused such discontent that he immediately forbade it to be shown to anyone. For three months, the artist Alexei Bogolyubov sought to lift the ban. In the end, the work of Ilya Repin was admitted to exhibitions.
"The Ship of Help" and "Distribution of Food", Ivan Aivazovsky, 1892
Two paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky are not too eager to show today, they did not enjoy the favor of the rulers in tsarist Russia either. During the famine of 1892-1893 in the Volga region and southern Russia, ordinary Americans tried to help ordinary people.
They collected food and sent it to Russia in five ships. It cannot be said that the country's leadership welcomed the collection of aid for Russia, but they certainly could not forbid their citizens to do good deeds. It was this event that formed the basis for the plot of two paintings by the famous marine painter, which were banned in Russia. The emperor was particularly displeased with the Food Distribution, where a peasant on a cart with food waving the American flag. As a result, Aivazovsky donated them to a Washington gallery.
READ ALSO: Why are two paintings by the seascape painter Aivazovsky banned from being shown in Russia today >>
"What is Truth?", Nikolay Ge, 1890
The painting by Nikolai Ge, depicting Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ, caused outrage and a ban on showing by the Holy Synod. It's all about the play of light and stereotypes of thinking. Contrary to tradition, in the rays of sunlight, the artist depicted not Jesus, but Pontius Pilate. At the same time, Jesus looks very worn out and small in comparison with Pilate. Some of Nikolai Ge's colleagues took the picture critically. The patron Tretyakov at first refused to purchase it for his gallery, but later changed his mind under the influence of Leo Tolstoy.
"Pogrom", Vasily Silverstov, 1934
Many paintings by Ukrainian artists, including Vasily Silvestrov's "Pogrom", in the first half of the twentieth century were not just banned, but could be destroyed. Until 1937, paintings were collected only in order to simply burn them. And here it was no longer a question of the artist's skill or the controversy of the plot. The main problem was the very personality of the artist. Many authors were repressed, some went to the camps, others were shot.
"Mystery of the XX century", Ilya Glazunov
It was assumed that the painting by Ilya Glazunov will become the main exhibit of the exhibition of the Union of Artists. However, instead of the grand opening of the exhibition, a real scandal erupted. The commission, which was nothing more than a censorship body, demanded that the painting be removed from the exhibition immediately.
READ ALSO: "Mystery of the XX century" by Ilya Glazunov: a painting-prophecy "which the Russians will never see" >>
However, the artist went to principle and categorically refused to follow the instructions of the censors. Fortunately, his authority at that time was already so high that Glazunov was not exiled to the camps, but only ordered to go to remote corners of the Soviet Union and draw portraits of the foremost workers of production, builders of the BAM, workers and collective farmers. Despite the fact that the painting was banned, the artist himself was not even denied foreign business trips. This is what Ilya Glazunov took advantage of and took the painting to Germany.
Censorship exists all over the world, and books, theatrical performances and films are often subjected to censorship. In Soviet times, literature, like many other spheres of culture, was under the total control of the party leadership. Works that did not correspond to the propagandized ideology were banned, and it was possible to read them only in samizdat or taking out a copy bought abroad and secretly brought to the Land of the Soviets.
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