Why did the epic painting "Defense of Sevastopol" by A. Deineka provoke heated debate, and why the woman posed for her
Why did the epic painting "Defense of Sevastopol" by A. Deineka provoke heated debate, and why the woman posed for her

Video: Why did the epic painting "Defense of Sevastopol" by A. Deineka provoke heated debate, and why the woman posed for her

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Defense of Sevastopol. A. Deineka, 1942
Defense of Sevastopol. A. Deineka, 1942

Artist today Alexander Alexandrovich Deineku, who painted pictures in the first half of the twentieth century, is called an extremely modern modernist. He loved unusual angles, dynamics and monumentality of the images depicted. One of the iconic paintings of the painter is "Defense of Sevastopol" … Some critics praised the picture for its emotional intensity, others did not like the excessive posterity, but no one remained indifferent.

A snapshot of Sevastopol during World War II
A snapshot of Sevastopol during World War II

In February 1942, Alexander Deineka visited TASS, where he was shown a newspaper with a photograph of destroyed Sevastopol. This episode is firmly engraved in the memory of the artist and aroused the desire to write an inspiring picture:

Self-portrait. A. Deineka, 1948
Self-portrait. A. Deineka, 1948

Deineka painted a 2 x 4 meter painting in just a few months. He was so immersed in the workflow that he later recalled:.

Defense of Sevastopol. Fragment
Defense of Sevastopol. Fragment

The central character in "Defense of Sevastopol" is a sailor. His torso is deployed in a decisive impulse, he is already ready to throw a bunch of grenades. Dynamics is felt in literally every stroke. For a long time, the artist could not find a suitable guy who would agree to become a model. The decision came unexpectedly. Among the acquaintances of Deineka was an athlete with a strong physique. She agreed to pose for him. As a result, the sailor with pomegranates was painted from a female nature.

Defense of Sevastopol. Fragment
Defense of Sevastopol. Fragment

The chosen color scheme only enhances the dynamic expressiveness of the picture. Enemy forces, glow and sea are made in dark colors. Light images of sailors contrast sharply against the background of general gloom.

Sketch for the painting "Defense of Sevastopol"
Sketch for the painting "Defense of Sevastopol"

Critics greeted the "Defense of Sevastopol" picture ambiguously. Alexander Deineka was reproached that there is no depth in his picture, and the images depicted are too schematic, disproportionate and more reminiscent of poster journalism. The artist himself noted that he strove to depict the eternal struggle between good and evil as possible, embodied in the clash of sailors and enemy hordes. The artist himself assessed his painting as follows:

Sketch for the painting "Defense of Sevastopol"
Sketch for the painting "Defense of Sevastopol"

The painting of another painter of the early twentieth century was perceived ambiguously. Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin conceived "Bathing the Red Horse" as an everyday picture, but contemporaries perceived it as a harbinger of future changes.

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