“ T O O U R E Y E S , U N F A M I L I A R
W I T H I M A G E S O F L A B O R , T H E S E
W O R K I N G W O M E N A R E
S T R A N G E H A R B I N G E R S O F A N
U N K N O W N F U T U R E I M A G I N E D
F R O M T H E O U T M O D E D P A S T S
O F B O T H C O M M U N I S M A N D M O D E R N I S T P A I N T I N G . ” - C H R I S T I N A K I A E R
A B O U T T H E
C O L L E C T I O N
T h e C a r t h a g e C o l l e g e c o l l e c t i o n o f o n e h u n d r e d a n d t h i r t y - o n e
p a i n t i n g s f r o m t h e S o v i e t e r a r e p r e s e n t s a c r o s s - s e c t i o n o f t h e
e x t e n s i v e b o d y o f w o r k c r e a t e d b y a r t i s t s w h o l i v e d i n t h e U S S R .
I t c o n t a i n s w o r k s b y r e n o w n e d a r t i s t s , r e c i p i e n t s o f t h e S t a l i n
P r i z e a n d o t h e r i m p o r t a n t s t a t e a w a r d s , m e m b e r s o f s i g n i f i c a n t a r t
m o v e m e n t s a n d a r t a s s o c i a t i o n s o f t h e S o v i e t e r a , a s w e l l a s
r e g i o n a l a r t i s t s . I t c o n s t i t u t e s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e b o d y o f w o r k f r o m
t h e p e r i o d I t a l s o b o a s t s s e v e r a l e x a m p l e s o f p r e - S o v i e t a n d p o s t -
S o v i e t w o r k s .
M o s t o f t h e a r t i s t s i n t h e C o l l e c t i o n w e r e m e m b e r s o f t h e A r t i s t s ’
U n i o n o f t h e U S S R a n d i t s v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s . T h u s , t h e y w e r e p a r t
o f t h e o f f i c i a l a r t e s t a b l i s h m e n t a t a t i m e w h e n p u b l i c d i s c o u r s e
w a s h e av i l y c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a p p a r a t u s o f t h e S o v i e t
s t a t e a n d t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y. T h e p r i m a r y c o n t r o l v e h i c l e w a s
t h e U S S R A r t i s t s ’ U n i o n a n d o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s u c h a s s t a t e
m u s e u m s , a r t p u b l i c a t i o n s , a n d m a s s m e d i a . S o v i e t a r t i s a u n i q u e
p h e n o m e n o n i n t h e h i s t o r y o f w o r l d a r t I t e x i s t e d o u t s i d e t h e a r t
m a r k e t f o r s e v e n d e c a d e s a n d w a s n o t s u b j e c t t o m a r k e t
r e g u l a t i o n . I n s t e a d , i t w a s r e g u l a t e d b y i d e o l o g i c a l c o n c e r n s t h a t
w e r e , m o s t o f t h e t i m e , n o t t h e c o n c e r n s o f t h e a r t i s t s t h e m s e l v e s
b u t r a t h e r i m p o s e d o n t h e m b y t h e r u l i n g P a r t y ’ s i d e o l o g i c a l
a p p a r a t u s .
T h e C o l l e c t i o n i s a n e s s e n t i a l r e s o u r c e f o r s t u d y i n g t h e
f u n c t i o n i n g o f c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n u n d e r o p p r e s s i o n . I t p r o v i d e s
p l e n t i f u l r e s e a r c h m a t e r i a l t h a t h e l p s t h e o r i z e h o w m a t e r i a l
c o n d i t i o n s a n d s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s s h a p e c u l t u r e a n d u n d e r s t a n d t h e
s p e c i f i c s o f c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n u n d e r s t a t e s o c i a l i s m . I t a l s o
a l l o w s u s t o e x a m i n e i n d i v i d u a l s t r a t e g i e s S o v i e t a r t i s t s c h o s e t o
n av i g a t e t h e d a n g e r o u s w a t e r s o f t h e h e av i l y c e n s o r e d c u l t u r a l
s p a c e , v a c i l l a t i n g b e t w e e n s u r v i v a l a n d s e r v i l i t y o n t h e o n e h a n d
a n d c r e a t i v i t y a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o n t h e o t h e r . T h e C o l l e c t i o n
p r o v i d e s m a t e r i a l t o u n c o v e r n a r r a t i v e s t h a t S o v i e t a r t i s t s
c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e p u b l i c d i s c o u r s e – i n s p i r e d b y, o r s o m e t i m e s
d i v e r g e n t f r o m , o f f i c i a l S o v i e t i d e o l o g i e s . I t a l s o o f f e r s p i c t o r i a l
m a t e r i a l t o l e a r n a b o u t a r t s t y l e s a n d t e c h n i q u e s p r e v a l e n t i n
S o v i e t a r t . A l m o s t a l l t h e a r t i s t s i n t h e C o l l e c t i o n w e r e m e m b e r s
o f i m p o r t a n t a r t g r o u p s : t h e I t i n e r a n t s , J a c k o f D i a m o n d s ,
A s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e A r t i s t s o f t h e R e v o l u t i o n , S o v i e t A r t i s t s U n i o n ,
a n d a r t s t y l e s a n d m o v e m e n t s : S o c i a l i s t R e a l i s m , S e v e r e S t y l e , a n d
V i l l a g e A r t .
B O R D E R L A N D S A N D
C R O S S R O A D S :
A C O N F L U E N C E O F A R T ,
M U S I C , F I L M A N D
E V E R Y D A Y L I F E
T h e 4 t h S y m p o s i u m C e l e b r a t i n g t h e
S a m u e l a n d B e r r y S h o e n C o l l e c t i o n o f
S o v i e t A r t a t C a r t h a g e C o l l e g e H o s t e d i n
c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h s t u d e n t s , s c h o l a r s ,
a n d e d u c a t o r s , t h i s i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a r y
e v e n t e x p l o r e s h o w c r e a t i v e e x p r e s s i o n
i n t e r s e c t e d w i t h d a i l y l i f e a c r o s s t h e
S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i t s b o r d e r l a n d s .
T h r o u g h e x h i b i t i o n s , p e r f o r m a n c e s ,
s c r e e n i n g s , a n d d i a l o g u e , w e i n v i t e
a u d i e n c e s t o c o n s i d e r h o w a r t , m u s i c ,
a n d f i l m i l l u m i n a t e h i s t o r i c a l r e a l i t i e s
a n d r e s o n a t e i n h u m a n s t o r i e s .
U s e t h i s Q R c o d e t o l o o k a t t h e
p r e v i o u s s y m p o s i u m s a r c h i v e d o n
t h e s c h o o l ’s w e b s i t e .
S y m p o s i u m S c h e d u l e J a n u a r y 1 3 , 1 4 , 1 5 , 2 0 2 6
Tu e s d a y, J a n u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 2 6 1 : 0 0 – 2 : 3 0 p . m
V PA L d i s c u s s i o n a n d r e c e p t i o n t o f o l l o w “ F r o m Fo g t o F a c t o r y :
S o v i e t A n i m a t i o n a n d t h e L i v e s B e t w e e n D r e a m a n d L a b o r ” E x p l o r e
t h e p o e t i c a n d p l a y f u l w o r l d s o f S o v i e t a n i m a t i o n i n t h i s c u r a t e d
s c r e e n i n g , f e a t u r i n g w o r k s f r o m Yu r i N o r s t e i n , A l e k s a n d r P e t r o v,
A n d r e y K h r z h a n o v s k y, a n d F y o d o r K h i t r u k F r o m i n t r o s p e c t i v e
p a i n t e r l y t a l e s t o a b s u r d i s t c r i t i q u e s o f d a i l y l i f e , t h e s e f i l m s r e v e a l
h o w a n i m a t o r s b a l a n c e d i m a g i n a t i o n , l a b o r, a n d s u b t l e s o c i a l
c o m m e n t a r y i n a c l i m a t e u n c o n d u c i v e t o p o l i t i c a l d i s c o u r s e .
Yu r i N o r s t e i n ( H e d g e h o g i n t h e f o g ) 1 9 7 5 ( 1 0 m i n u t e s )
A l e k s a n d r P e t r o v ( T h e C o w ) 1 9 8 9 ( 1 0 m i n u t e s )
A n d r y K h r z h a n o v s k y ( T h e r e L i v e d K o z y av i n ) 1 9 6 6 ( 1 0 M i n u t e s )
F y o d o r K h i t r u k ( T h e S t o r y o f a C r i m e ) 1 9 6 2 ( 2 0 m i n )
W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 1 4 , 2 0 2 6
2 : 0 0 – 3 : 0 0 p . m . V PA L d i s c u s s i o n a n d r e c e p t i o n t o f o l l o w
Ro u n d t a b l e D i s c u s s i o n “ Wo m e n a n d L a b o r ” f o l l o w e d b y q u e s t i o n s
a n d r e c e p t i o n
P a r t i c i p a n t s : G u e s t S c h o l a r D r C h r i s t i n a K i a e r, N o r t h w e s t e r n
U n i v e r s i t y, “A n n a A n d r e e v a , a n d t h e R e d Ro s e S i l k F a c t o r y. ”
C a r t h a g e f a c u l t y J a m e s R i c h i e , “ C r o s s i n g B o r d e r s o f T i m e ,
L a n g u a g e , a n d C u l t u r e : Tr a n s l a t i n g E l e n a G u r o . ” Ro b i n H o l m e s ,
“ S o l i d a r i t i e s : l a b o r a n d t h e p o l i t i c s o f g e n d e r ” ; a n d L i s a B i g a l k e ,
“ Wo m e n & a m p ; C r a f t : T h i n g s I w i s h I l e a r n e d i n a r t s c h o o l ”
T h u r s d a y, J a n u a r y 1 5 , 2 0 2 6
1 2 : 0 0 p . m . R e c i t a l H a l l r e c e p t i o n t o f o l l o w
R a c h m a n i n o v ’ s S o n a t a i n G M i n o r, f o r c e l l o a n d p i a n o , O p . 1 9
( 1 9 0 1 ) , f e a t u r i n g S t e f a n K a r t m a n , p r o f e s s o r o f c e l l o a n d c h a m b e r
m u s i c , U n i v e r s i t y o f W i s c o n s i n M i l w a u k e e , a n d J e a n n i e Yu , p i a n i s t .
T h e s o n a t a , o n e o f R a c h m a n i n o v ’ s m o s t i m p o r t a n t c h a m b e r w o r k s ,
s h o w c a s e s h i s l y r i c a l m e l o d i e s , r i c h h a r m o n i e s , a n d e m o t i o n a l d e p t h .
W r i t t e n s o o n a f t e r h i s S e c o n d P i a n o C o n c e r t o , i t r e f l e c t s a s e n s e o f
r e n e w a l f o l l o w i n g a c r e a t i v e c r i s i s N o t a b l e f o r g i v i n g e q u a l v o i c e t o
c e l l o a n d p i a n o , t h e f o u r - m o v e m e n t w o r k b l e n d s Ro m a n t i c i n t e n s i t y
w i t h i n t r o s p e c t i v e b e a u t y, s t a n d i n g a s a c o r n e r s t o n e o f t h e c e l l o
r e p e r t o i r e a n d a d e e p l y p e r s o n a l e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e c o m p o s e r ’ s
a r t i s t r y.
2 : 0 0 – 3 : 0 0 p . m . V PA L d i s c u s s i o n a n d r e c e p t i o n t o f o l l o w
P r e s e n t a t i o n b y D r . C h r i s t i n a K i a e r f r o m N o r t h w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y
o n h e r n e w b o o k , C o l l e c t i v e B o d y A l e k s a n d r D e i n e k a a t t h e L i m i t o f
S o c i a l i s t R e a l i s m
3 : 3 0 – 6 : 0 0 E x h i b i t i o n R e c e p t i o n
4 : 3 0 S t u d e n t P r e s e n t a t i o n “ M i l k P o l i t i c s ” b y J a r e d We r n e r ‘ 2 7
T H I S Y E A R ’ S
E X H I B I T I O N
H a r v e s t i n g L i g h t : S o v i e t W o m e n i n L a b o r
a n d L i f e
I n t h e e a r l y y e a r s o f t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n , w o m e n w e r e c a l l e d t o d o
t w o k i n d s o f w o r k : b u i l d i n g
s o c i a l i s m t h r o u g h l a b o r a n d
n u r t u r i n g i t s f u t u r e a t h o m e . T h e y
b e c a m e s y m b o l s o f s t r e n g t h a n d
d e v o t i o n , c e l e b r a t e d a s b o t h
w o r k e r s a n d m o t h e r s . Y e t t h i s
i d e a l a l s o d e m a n d e d m u c h o f
t h e m , a s k i n g w o m e n t o c a r r y t h e
w e i g h t o f p r o g r e s s i n e v e r y p a r t
o f l i f e . T h e i r s t o r y i s o n e o f
r e s i l i e n c e a n d b a l a n c e , a s t h e y
f o u n d l i g h t w i t h i n t h e h a r d w o r k
o f c r e a t i n g a n d s u s t a i n i n g a n e w
w o r l d .
V a c a t i o n i n
G r a n d m o t h e r ’ s
H o u s e
Va s i l i P av l o v i c h K o m a r d i n
Va c a t i o n i n G r a n d m o t h e r ' s H o u s e
3 6 9 / 1 6 x 5 9 1 / 1 6 i n
1 9 9 1 O i l o n C a n v a s
P o r t r a i t o f E r a A d u c h i e v a
P o m a n s k i a
Y o u n g D o c t o r f r o m K a l m y k i a
A l e k s a n d r A l e k s a n d r o v i c h P o m a n s k y
P o r t r a i t o f E r a A d u c h i e v a P o m a n s k i a Yo u n g D o c t o r
f r o m K a l m y k i a
2 7 9 / 1 6 x 1 9 1 1 / 1 6 i n
1 9 6 6 O i l o n B o a r d
P o r t r a i t o f a N u r s e
D u r i n g a n E p i d e m i c
E d u a r d G e o r g i e v i c h B r a g o v s k y
P o r t r a i t o f a N u r s e D u r i n g a n E p i d e m i c
2 7 1 / 2 x 1 9 5 / 8 i n
1 9 4 9 O i l o n C a n v a s
E d u a r d G e o r g i e v i c h B r a g o v s k y w a s b o r n i n 1 9 2 3 i n S o v i e t
G e o r g i a . K n o w n f o r h i s l a n d s c a p e s , g e n r e p a i n t i n g s ,
p o r t r a i t s , a n d s t i l l l i f e s , B r a g o v s k y a t t e n d e d t h e M o s c o w
S t a t e A r t I n s t i t u t e o f V. I . S u r i k o v. I n 1 9 8 9 , h e w a s a w a r d e d
t h e H o n o r e d A r t i s t o f t h e R S F S R a n d t h e S t a t e P r i z e o f
Ru s s i a . H e d i e d i n 2 0 1 0 , a n d h i s w o r k s a r e h e l d i n r e g i o n a l
m u s e u m s a n d p r i v a t e c o l l e c t i o n s a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d .
P o r t r a i t o f a N u r s e D u r i n g a n E p i d e m i c i s a n i m a g e o f a
y o u n g w o m a n w h o s i t s i n a r o o m w i t h b a r e , b r o w n w a l l s , h e r
r i g h t a r m r e s t i n g o n a t a b l e b e s i d e h e r, a n d a b l a n k
e x p r e s s i o n o n h e r f a c e . H e r r i g h t h a n d h o l d s a s y r i n g e ,
p o i n t e d a w a y f r o m h e r b o d y, a n d h e r l e f t r e s t s i n h e r l a p . A
b l a c k - c a p p e d b o t t l e , f i l l e d w i t h a g o l d e n - y e l l o w l i q u i d ,
s t a n d s o n t h e t a b l e b e s i d e h e r e l b o w. T h e t a b l e c l o t h i s a
p r i s t i n e , s t e r i l e w h i t e , m a t c h i n g t h e u n i f o r m t h e w o m a n
w e a r s . H e r c h e e k s h av e a b r i g h t , r o s y t i n t , p o s s i b l y f r o m
c o l d o r c o s m e t i c s . T h e c o l o r o f h e r c h e e k s h i g h l i g h t s t h e
p i n k b o w i n h e r b r a i d e d h a i r . I n t h e 1 9 3 0 s , t h e s t a t e ’ s
a s p i r a t i o n s t o h av e a b r o a d av a i l a b i l i t y o f c o n s u m e r g o o d s
a s a s i g n o f s o c i a l p r o g r e s s i n c l u d e d p e r f u m e a n d c o s m e t i c s ,
b u t t h i s g o a l d i d n o t m a t e r i a l i z e .
T h e f i r s t h a l f o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n
w a s f i l l e d w i t h e p i d e m i c s o f i n f e c t i o u s d i s e a s e s s u c h a s
c h o l e r a , d y s e n t e r y, m a l a r i a , s m a l l p o x , a n d t y p h u s .
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e S A N E P I D S e r v i c e i n t h e U S S R P u b l i c
H e a l t h R e p o r t s b e t w e e n 1 9 1 8 a n d 1 9 2 0 , a t l e a s t 6 . 5 m i l l i o n
p e o p l e c o n t r a c t e d t y p h u s . T h i s i n f l u x o f d i s e a s e l e d t o t h e
c r e a t i o n o f a n e t w o r k o f p u b l i c h e a l t h c e n t e r s , a n d b y 1 9 4 1 ,
c l o s e t o 1 7 0 0 s a n i t a r y e p i d e m i o l o g i c a l s t a t i o n s h a d b e e n
e s t a b l i s h e d . T h e S a n i t a r y E p i d e m i o l o g i c a l S e r v i c e p r o t e c t e d
p u b l i c h e a l t h t h r o u g h m a s s v a c c i n a t i o n s , d i s e a s e
m o n i t o r i n g , a n d s a n i t a t i o n .
A b o u t P o r t r a i t o f a N u r s e D u r i n g a n E p i d e m i c
b y K a s s i e K e l n h o f e r ‘ 2 6
L u n c h B r e a k
S e r g e i S e r g e e v i c h P o s k o n i n
L u n c h B r e a k
6 9 1 / 4 x 6 1 i n
1 9 6 1 O i l o n C a n v a s
P o t t e r f r o m B a l k a r
I v a n Va s i l e v i c h S o r o k i n
P o t t e r f r o m B a l k h a r
2 7 1 / 2 x 1 9 5 / 8 i n
1 9 8 3 O i l o n B o a r d
T h e S e a m s t r e s s
A n d r e i P e t r o v i c h S u r o v t s e v
T h e S e a m s t r e s s
5 0 x 3 9 1 / 2 i n
1 9 5 6 O i l o n C a n v a s
A F a r m G i r l
V l a d i s l av G e o r g i e v i c h F e d o r o v
A F a r m G i r l
5 5 1 / 8 x 4 7 1 / 4 i n
1 9 7 5 O i l o n C a n v a s
M i l k P o l i t i c s
M y t e r m “ M i l k P o l i t i c s ” i s n o t a n a c r o n y m ; i t r e f e r s
d i r e c t l y t o t h e p o l i c i e s , p o l i t i c s , a n d p r o p a g a n d a
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c o w ' s m i l k . T h i s i s n o t e x c l u s i v e t o t h e
S o v i e t U n i o n . To b o o s t a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o n o m i e s , m a n y
g o v e r n m e n t s h av e e n c o u r a g e d p e o p l e t o b u y c o w s '
m i l k . I f y o u g r e w u p i n t h e 1 9 9 0 s , y o u m a y b e f a m i l i a r
w i t h t h e " G o t M i l k ? " c a m p a i g n o r h av e h a d y o u r
p a r e n t s t e l l y o u t h a t m i l k i s g o o d f o r y o u r b o n e s .
A l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e m a n y d a i r y p r o d u c t s , t h e r e a l i t y i s
t h a t m o s t h u m a n s a r e l a c t o s e i n t o l e r a n t b e c a u s e i t i s
n o t i n o u r n a t u r e t o d r i n k m i l k f r o m a n i m a l s . W h a t I
a m t r y i n g t o g e t a t i s t h a t m a r k e t s a r e c r e a t e d
c o n s t r u c t s t o f u e l e c o n o m i e s , a n d m i l k i s j u s t o n e
e x a m p l e o f a p r o d u c t t h a t g e t s w o v e n d e e p l y i n t o
p o l i t i c s .
Yo u m a y h av e h e a r d o f g o v e r n m e n t c h e e s e . I n t h e
1 9 7 0 s , t h e p r i c e o f m i l k w e n t u p b y 3 0 % . To c o m b a t
t h i s , t h e g o v e r n m e n t b o u g h t e x c e s s a m o u n t s o f m i l k t o
l o w e r t h e i r p r i c e s , m a k i n g i t m o r e a c c e s s i b l e .
“ S u d d e n l y, d a i r y f a r m e r s w h o h a d b e e n h u r t i n g w e r e
f l u s h w i t h c a s h a n d p r o d u c i n g a s m u c h m i l k a s t h e y
c o u l d i n o r d e r t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f g o v e r n m e n t
s u p p o r t . T h e g o v e r n m e n t p u r c h a s e d t h e m i l k d a i r y
f a r m e r s c o u l d n o t s e l l a n d b e g a n t o p r o c e s s i t i n t o
c h e e s e , b u t t e r, a n d d e h y d r a t e d m i l k p o w d e r . A s d a i r y
f a r m e r s p r o d u c e d m o r e a n d m o r e m i l k , s t o c k p i l e s
b a l l o o n e d . A s a n t h r o p o l o g i s t B r a d l e y N . J o n e s n o t e s ,
e v e n t u a l l y t h e s t o c k p i l e h i t o v e r 5 0 0 m i l l i o n p o u n d s ,
s t o r e d i n h u n d r e d s o f w a r e h o u s e s i n 3 5 s t a t e s ”
( B l a k e m o r e 2 0 2 5 ) . I n Ru s s i a , m i l k w a s d i s t r i b u t e d f o r
f r e e , m u c h l i k e g o v e r n m e n t c h e e s e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
H o w e v e r, i n s t e a d o f c h e e s e , Ru s s i a n s f e r m e n t e d
t h e m i l k , m a k i n g к е ф и р , k e f i r i n E n g l i s h . Yo u
m a y h av e h e a r d a b o u t b r e a d l i n e s w h e r e p e o p l e
s t o o d f o r h o u r s t o e x c h a n g e t h e i r т а л о н , o r
t i c k e t s , f o r b r e a d . T h e r e w e r e a l s o l e s s e r - k n o w n
m i l k l i n e s w h e r e p e o p l e w o u l d w a i t w i t h t h e i r
o w n c o n t a i n e r s t o g e t m i l k f r o m a t a p . “ M i l k i n
m e t a l c a n i s t e r s ( b i d o n y ) a n d c i s t e r n s b e g a n t o
s y m b o l i z e b a c k w a r d n e s s , w h i l e m i l k i n p a p e r
p a c k a g i n g c a m e t o e m b o d y p r o g r e s s i v e n e s s ”
( Ta r a s o v a 2 0 1 9 ) . Wo r k e r s w e r e g i v e n т а л о н i n
e x c h a n g e f o r t h e i r l a b o r i n s t e a d o f p a y c h e c k s .
M i l k t r u c k s w o u l d r o l l i n t o f a c t o r i e s t o
d i s t r i b u t e a r o u n d h a l f a l i t e r o f m i l k p e r s h i f t .
T h e r e a r e s t o r i e s o f w o r k e r s i n p a i n t f a c t o r i e s
w h o , a f t e r d r i n k i n g t h e i r m i l k , w o u l d f i l l t h e
i c o n i c U S S R p y r a m i d c a r t o n s w i t h p a i n t t o s e l l
o n t h e b l a c k m a r k e t . C o w s a n d d a i r y w o r k e r s ,
s o o f t e n r e p r e s e n t e d o n r u r a l f a r m s , w e r e d e e p l y
e n t w i n e d w i t h t h e e c o n o m y a n d p o l i t i c s o f
w o r k e r s a n d c o n s u m e r s a c r o s s t h e U S S R .
A b o u t A F a r m G i r l
b y J a r e d We r n e r ‘ 2 7
S u m m e r P o e m
Ve r a I p p o l i t o v n a A r a l o v a - P e t e r s o n
S u m m e r P o e m
4 7 3 / 4 x 5 1 1 / 4 i n
1 9 8 0 O i l o n C a n v a s
K a r e l i a
( 4 W o m e n w i t h
H a n d c r a f t s )
O l g a S t e p a n o v a K u r a n s k a y a
K a r e l i a ( 4 Wo m e n w i t h H a n d c r a f t s )
4 8 1 / 4 x 6 8 7 / 8 i n
1 9 9 4 O i l o n C a n v a s
P o r t r a i t o f a
M i l i t a r y W o m a n
K o n s t a n t i n e D e m y a n o v i c h K i t a i k a
P o r t r a i t o f a M i l i t a r y Wo m a n
1 2 x 1 1 i n
1 9 5 2 O i l o n C a n v a s
Unlike the other Allied nations, the Soviet Union allowed and encouraged women to take up arms against the German invasion during the Second World War. It is estimated that one million women, both volunteers and conscripts, defended their country. Over 95 women would receive the highest military award in the USSR, Hero of the Soviet Union. These brave women served as snipers, machinegunners, infantry, aviators, and tankers. Women such as Lyudmila Pavlichenko (Ukrainian SSR), Aleksandra Samusenko (Russian Siberian), and Marina Raskova (Russian) represent pathbreaking stories of the women who fought against fascism.
Portrait of a Military Woman, by Konstantine Demyanovich Kitaika, shows the tension between celebration and suffering. It shows a WWII veteran wearing her summer military parade cap, distinguishing her as an enlisted soldier. Kitaika, a veteran from Soviet Azerbaijan, paints her as a survivor, wearing a uniform that expresses her service, yet the strong contrast of light and shadow conveys her as a hollow-eyed witness. Kitaika shows this woman with a haunted facial expression beneath the cap of the 1945 Victory Parade, suggesting the psychological contradictions she faced after returning from the Eastern Front.
Many Soviet women who served faced psychological deterioration after the Second World War. Lyudmila Pavlichenko, one of the world's deadliest snipers, would be mentally changed after the war. Pavlichenko was famously referred to as “Lady Death” because of her 309 confirmed kills during the sieges of Odesa and Sevastopol. She suffered posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and alcoholism after the war. Marina Raskova famously commanded the 588th Night Bomber Regiment. Nicknamed “Night Witches” by the Germans, they flew over 23,000 bombing runs and dropped over 3,000 tons of bombs. Aleksandra Samusenko was the first female tank commander, famously winning several awards for distinct bravery. Many women like Pavlichenko, Raskova, and Samusenko challenged gender roles through their frontline combat against fascism. While many pathbreaking stories and achievements were made, the focus of this painting remains the horrors of surviving the Second World War.
Appearing to suffer from lethargy and exhaustion, this unnamed soldier is portrayed with scant energy, an unresponsive smile, and staring eyes. The Azerbaijani painter, Konstantine Demyanovich Kitaika, served as a foot soldier in the Red Army from 1943 until 1945, where he sketched similar images that suggest a unified Soviet celebration. However, obscenities that ‘voinkas’ (women warriors) endured during and after their service still prevail well into the 21st century.
The effects of the ‘Great Patriotic War’ in the USSR were devastating: 1,700 towns and 70,000 villages were completely obliterated, resulting in an estimated 28 million Soviet deaths. Fourteen million of these were active service-related, and 200,000 were women. The Soviet military halted the Nazi onslaught, a defense bolstered by the ‘myedsyestra’ (a term meaning nurses, but applied to all roles women occupied). Observed skill among female combatants was exemplified in soldiers like Soviet Ukrainian Lyudmila Pavlichenko and Nina Onilova, both awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union medal, the highest military distinction. Despite demonstrating military prowess, women's identities were stripped and their dignity stained. Hyper-masculine tendencies filled the Red Army, which were impossible to steer clear of, as Soviet women commonly suffered marginalizing jobs, sexualized epithets, and rape. Insults such as ППЖ (PPZh), Полевая Походная Жена (Polevaya Pokhodnaya Zhena), a pun on the ППШ (PPSh) submachine gun, translated to ‘Field Hiking Wife,’ and За Боевиє Заслуги (a medal for fighting), were undermined as a ‘sexual service medal,’ dismissing women ’ s skill and contributions by labeling them as prostitutes On the other side, Nazi Germany and its armies abhorred female combatants since they threatened their perceived notions of masculinity and citizenship. Fear of patriarchal structures crumbling is revealed in dehumanizing gendered insults such as ‘Flintenweiber’ (Rifle broad or bitch), and if captured, women were often treated even more brutally than their male counterparts by the Wehrmacht
4th Rubizh Brigade, Eva callsign ‘Junga’, July 12th, 2025. Dobropillia, Ukraine.
2 1 s t - c e n t u r y U k r a i n e p a r a l l e l s i t s S o v i e t p a s t a s w o m e n
e x e r t p r o m i n e n c e i n m i l i t a r y o p e r a t i o n s . I n 2 0 1 4 , w o m e n
v o l u n t e e r e d a s s o l d i e r s t o h e l p t h w a r t Ru s s i a n a d v a n c e m e n t
i n e a s t e r n U k r a i n e . D o c u m e n t e d a s n o n c o m b a t a n t s a n d n o t
e n l i s t e d o f f i c i a l l y, t h e y w e r e u n r e c o g n i z e d a n d a w a r d e d n o
s o c i a l o r m i l i t a r y b e n e f i t s a n d r e f e r r e d t o a s ‘ i n v i s i b l e
b a t t a l i o n s . ’ D i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t w o m e n i n t h e m i l i t a r y
s t i l l c o n t i n u e s , a s Yu l i a M y k y t e n k o s t a t e s , “ W h e n I w a s
g i v e n c o m m a n d , – 8 0 % o f t h e p e o p l e – t r a n s f e r r e d t o o t h e r
t r o o p s , – b e c a u s e t h e y h a d a w o m a n c o m m a n d e r ” E v g e n i y a
Ve l y k a r e c a l l s , “ I n s o c i e t y, t h e r e e x i s t s a s t r o n g o p i n i o n t h a t
g i r l s g o t o t h e a r m y t o f i n d a h u s b a n d . ” Wo m e n a r e s c a r c e l y
p o r t r a y e d a s s o l d i e r s b u t a s o b j e c t s o f s e x u a l i d e a l i z a t i o n
a n d c o r r u p t e d f e m i n i n i t y. A s o f 2 0 2 5 , n e a r l y 2 0 % o f a l l
U k r a i n i a n m i l i t a r y c a d e t s a r e w o m e n . O l h a B i h a r, a n
e x p e r i e n c e d D e p u t y C o m m a n d e r, a n d E v g e n i y a E m e r a l d , a
r e n o w n e d s n i p e r, a r e s y m b o l s o f d e f i a n c e i n t h e f a c e o f
f l u c t u a t i n g a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f w o m e n ' s m i l i t a r y a b i l i t i e s ,
w h i c h c o n t i n u e s t o s t r a i n s o c i e t a l e x p e c t a t i o n s .
A b o u t P o r t r a i t o f a M i l i t a r y Wo m a n b y J a c o b Wa l k e r ‘ 2 8
T h e B r i c k L a y e r
I r i n a D m i t r i e v n a S h t a n g e
T h e B r i c k L a y e r
2 5 9 / 1 6 x 2 1 5 / 8 i n
1 9 4 1 O i l o n C a n v a s
T h e V i c t o r y
G r o u p o f D a i r y
F a r m W o r k e r s
V s e v o l o d A l e k s a n d r o v i c h F i l i m o n o v
T h e V i c t o r y G r o u p o f D a i r y F a r m
Wo r k e r s
5 9 1 / 1 6 x 5 1 1 / 4 i n
1 9 7 7 O i l o n C a n v a s
h e C o m m u n i s t E x p e r i m e n t
I n p r a c t i c e , c o m m u n i s m h a s t w o s i g n i f i c a n t f l a w s .
T h e f i r s t i s w h a t i s k n o w n a s t h e Tr a g e d y o f t h e
C o m m o n s . A p e r f e c t m e t a p h o r f o r t h i s w o u l d b e a
m i c r o w av e i n s i d e a n o f f i c e s p a c e . A s p e o p l e u s e i t ,
i t g r a d u a l l y b e c o m e s i n c r e a s i n g l y d i r t y, b u t a l m o s t
n o o n e c l e a n s o r m a i n t a i n s i t b e c a u s e i t i s n o t t h e
p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y o f a n y o n e p e r s o n . T h e r e f o r e , a n
a u t h o r i t y n e e d s t o b e e s t a b l i s h e d t o a s s i g n t a s k s
r e l a t e d t o c l e a n i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g s h a r e d
p r o p e r t y. I n g o v e r n m e n t , t h i s a u t h o r i t y a l s o n e e d s
t o b e c a p a b l e o f e x e c u t i n g l e g i s l a t i o n , e n f o r c i n g
r u l e s , a n d d i s t r i b u t i n g r e s o u r c e s e q u a l l y a m o n g
c i t i z e n s . H u m a n s h av e n o t s u c c e s s f u l l y a c h i e v e d
f u l l M a r x i s t c o m m u n i s m o n a l a r g e s c a l e b e c a u s e ,
a l m o s t a l w a y s , t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h o s e i n p o w e r
t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e i r p o w e r, a n d t h e s y s t e m
b e c o m e s t y r a n n i c a l , c o n t r a d i c t i n g t h e i d e a o f a n
e q u a l s o c i e t y. T h e a u t h o r i t y f i g u r e t h a t i s n e e d e d t o
e n f o r c e h a s m o r e p o w e r t h a n t h e b a s i c c i t i z e n ,
w h i c h c o m p l e t e l y g o e s a g a i n s t t h e w h o l e i d e a o f a n
e q u a l M a r x i s t s o c i e t y. T h e s e c o n d i s t h e l a c k o f
c o m p e t i t i o n . S i m i l a r t o g r e e d , h u m a n s a r e
m o t i v a t e d b y t h e d e s i r e t o a c c u m u l a t e w e a l t h ,
w h e t h e r t h a t b e c a p i t a l , c o m m o d i t i e s , o r p r o p e r t y,
h e n c e t h e s u c c e s s o f c a p i t a l i s m . T h e S o v i e t s
r e c o g n i z e d t h i s a n d i m p l e m e n t e d a s y s t e m o f
c o m p e t i t i o n s n a t i o n a l l y t o i n c e n t i v i z e w o r k e r s ,
k n o w n a s S o c i a l i s t E m u l a t i o n .
A b o u t T h e V i c t o r y G r o u p o f D a i r y F a r m Wo r k e r s
b y J a r e d We r n e r ‘ 2 7
S i l k p e n n a n t m a r k i n g t h e w i n n e r o f a c o m p e t i t i o n
U S S R
2 0 t h c e n t u r y
* N o t a p a r t o f t h e S h o e n c o l l e c t i o n
S t a k h a n o v i t e M o v e m e n t
A l e x e i S t a k h a n o v, a m i n e r f r o m S o v i e t U k r a i n e ,
b e c a m e a n a t i o n a l h e r o o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d a
p h y s i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e i d e a l w o r k e r . “A l e x e i
S t a k h a n o v a n d t h r e e c o l l e a g u e s e n t e r e d t h e m i n e ,
a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e p a r t y b o s s a n d a l o c a l j o u r n a l i s t .
S i x h o u r s l a t e r, t h e y e m e r g e d , t r i u m p h a n t , h av i n g
p r o d u c e d 1 0 2 t o n n e s o f c o a l m o r e t h a n 1 4 t i m e s t h e
t a r g e t . ” ( N e w m a n 2 0 1 5 ) . H i s l a b o r a n d a s s e r t i v e n e s s
s e t t h e s t a n d a r d f o r w o r k e r s . H e w a s r e c o g n i z e d f o r h i s
a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d t o u r e d t h e n a t i o n . T h e t e r m
S t a k h a n o v i t e w a s c o i n e d a f t e r A l e x e i ' s l a s t n a m e a n d
b e c a m e a t e r m t o d e s c r i b e a h a r d w o r k e r . T h e
S t a k h a n o v i t e M o v e m e n t , с т
х
i n Ru s s i a n , w a s r e c o g n i z e d b y J o s e p h S t a l i n a s i n t e g r a l
t o h i s p r o p a g a n d a m a c h i n e . N a t i o n a l s o c i a l i s t
c o m p e t i t i o n s f o r t h e b e s t m i l k m a i d o r b e s t w o r k e r
b e c a m e c o m m o n . L a t e r, “ I n 1 9 5 7 , f o u r y e a r s a f t e r
S t a l i n ' s d e a t h , t h e n e w S o v i e t l e a d e r, N i k i t a
K h r u s h c h e v, s a w n o n e e d t o k e e p S t a k h a n o v i n
M o s c o w a n d o r d e r e d h i m b a c k t o D o n b a s s . S t a k h a n o v
f e l t h e w a s i n v i r t u a l e x i l e e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e h i s f a m i l y
r e m a i n e d i n M o s c o w a n d s p e n t t h e l a s t 2 0 y e a r s o f
h i s l i f e d r i n k i n g h e av i l y. ” ( N e w m a n 2 0 1 5 ) . T h e w a y t h e
g o v e r n m e n t w a s s t r u c t u r e d l e d t o a s i n g l e l e a d e r
t a k i n g p o w e r, o f t e n w i t h t h e i r o w n i d e a s f o r r e f o r m s ,
o f t e n d i t c h i n g t h e f o r m e r s e c r e t a r y ' s l a w s . J u s t a s
K h r u s h c h e v d i t c h e d S t a k h a n o v. N o t a b l e r e f o r m
p o l i c i e s , s u c h a s “ G l a s n o s t , ” m e a n i n g o p e n n e s s , a n d
“ P e r e s t r o i k a , ” m e a n i n g r e s t r u c t u r i n g , a r e p r i m e
e x a m p l e s o f r e f o r m d u r i n g a p o w e r s h i f t b e t w e e n
l e a d e r s .
A b o u t T h e V i c t o r y G r o u p o f D a i r y F a r m Wo r k e r s
b y J a r e d We r n e r ‘ 2 7
W o m a n H a r v e s t i n g
A r t i s t U n k n o w n
Wo m a n H a r v e s t i n g
2 3 1 1 / 3 2 x 1 7 1 / 2 i n
N D O i l o n C a n v a s
We w o u l d l i k e t o t h a n k e v e r y o n e t h a t h a s w o r k e d
s o h a r d t o h e l p b r i n g t h i s y e a r ’ s s y m p o s i u m t o l i f e .
T h a n k y o u t o t h e s t u d e n t r e s e a r c h e r s , K a s s i e K e l n h o f e r
‘ 2 6 , A p r i l S t o n e r ‘ 2 7 , J a c o b Wa l k e r ‘ 2 8 . T h e y s p e n t t h i s
s e m e s t e r f i n d i n g t h e s t o r i e s o f e a c h p a i n t i n g t o s h a r e w i t h
e v e r y o n e . T h e i r w o r k g o e s t o s h o w t h a t a p i c t u r e , o r p a i n t i n g , t r u l y i s w o r t h a 1 , 0 0 0 w o r d s .
T h a n k y o u t o J a r e d We r n e r, o n e o f t h e s t u d e n t r e s e a r c h e r s
w h o w e n t a b o v e a n d b e y o n d . N o t o n l y d i d h e c o m p l e t e
r e s e a r c h w i t h e v e r y o n e e l s e h e a l s o p r e p a r e d a p r e s e n t a t i o n
a b o u t t h e M i l k P o l i t i c s d u r i n g t h e S o v i e t U n i o n .
T h a n k y o u t o L e s l i e B r o t h e r s f o r c u r a t i n g t h i s y e a r ’ s
e x h i b i t i o n a n d g a t h e r i n g a l l o f t h e e x p e r t s f o r t h e p a n e l s .
H e r w o r k e a c h y e a r m a k e s t h e s y m p o s i u m p o s s i b l e .
T h a n k y o u t o J o s h u a M c G o w a n a n d h i s s t u d e n t h e l p e r S .
T h e y p u t t o g e t h e r t h e a n i m a t i o n s c r e e n i n g t h a t s h o w s h o w
a r t w a s u s e d t o e x p l o r e p o l i t i c a l t o p i c s
T h a n k y o u t o C h r i s t i n i a K i a e r, J a m e s R i c h i e , a n d L i s a
B i g a l k e f o r p r e p a r i n g d i s c u s s i o n p a n e l s a b o u t d i f f e r e n t
a s p e c t s o f l i f e a n d t h e a r t t h a t r e p r e s e n t s t h e m d u r i n g t h i s t i m e .
T h a n k y o u t o Ro b i n H o l m e s w h o a c t e d i n t h e c a p a c i t y o f a
f a c u l t y a d v i s o r, a n d p a n e l s p e a k e r . N o t o n l y d i d y o u
d e d i c a t e t i m e t o i n c l u d e y o u r o w n r e s e a r c h y o u a l s o h e l p e d
t h e s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n t i r e p r o c e s s w i t h t h e i r s .
T h a n k y o u t o S t e f a n J e a n n i e Yu K a r t m a n f o r p l a y i n g
R a c h m a n i n o v ’ s S o n a t a a n d g i v i n g a l l o f u s a n o p p o r t u n i t y
t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e m u s i c f r o m t h i s t i m e .
T h a n k y o u t o t h e H . F. J o h n s o n G a l l e r y s t a f f f o r a s s i s t i n g
w i t h t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h i s y e a r ’ s e x h i b i t i o n a n d t h e
c r e a t i o n o f t h i s c a t a l o g u e .
L a s t l y, a s p e c i a l t h a n k y o u t o S a m u e l a n d B e r r y S h o e n f o r
t h e c o l l e c t i o n t h a t a l l o w s u s t o e x p l o r e a r t i s t s f r o m t h e
S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e i n f l u e n c e s t h e y h a d .
2 6 2 - 5 5 1 - 8 5 0 0 W W W . C A R T H A G E . E D U / A R T G A L L E R Y
L e s l i e B r o t h e r s , C u r a t o r
D r . R o b i n H o l m e s , F a c u l t y A d v i s o r
T a n n e r M a c A r t h u r , G a l l e r y D i r e c t o r t m a c a r t h u r @ c a r t h a g e . e d u
