Visions Behind the Veil: Soviet Era-Art Exhibition

I was selected as an art history student researcher for Carthage College’s third annual Soviet Era Art Symposium: Visions Beyond the Veil. My research examined Portrait of Ter-Gregorian (1943) by Aleksandr Ivanovich Laktionov and Portrait of Konstantine Simonov (1969) by Vasili Prokofevich Efanov. I composed wall labels analyzing the artworks within their historical and cultural contexts, highlighting the interplay between Soviet portraiture and resilience during the era. I was honored to represent the Arts at Carthage College at the third annual symposium, which featured pieces from the Sam and Berry Shoen Soviet Art Collection under the theme "Peace, Parity, A New Cold War? Navigating Global Dynamics in the 21st Century" and "Visions Behind the Veil: Soviet Era-Art Exhibition."

Below is my research before being reformatted into wall labels.

Born in Okulovka, Aleksandr Laktionov became a leading figure in Soviet realism. He trained at the Rostov Art School (1926–1929) and the Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts (1932–1938), later studying under renowned Soviet artist Isaac Brodski. During World War II, Laktionov served in the Soviet Army, contributing to the liberation of Belarus and creating anti-fascist propaganda. After the siege of Leningrad (1941-44), he and the Academy of Arts relocated to Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan to continue functioning as an institution. The Institute returned from evacuation in 1944. 

Laktionov’s work blends tempera and oil painting, often utilizing ancient recipes. His Portrait of Ter-Gregorian (1943), painted during the war, exemplifies this technique. Post-war, he rose to prominence with award-winning works that embodied the ethos of socialist realism and the "Severe Style." Laktionov's legacy endures as a key contributor to Soviet art and culture.

Born in Samara, about 600 miles southwest of Moscow, Vasili Efanov was a celebrated Soviet painter and educator. He trained at the Samara Art and Industrial College (1917–1921). He later pursued studies in Moscow, working in various artists’ studios after unsuccessful attempts to join institutions like the Petrograd Free Art Workshops. A five-time Stalin Prize recipient (1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952) and an Order of Lenin honoree, Efanov was also a dedicated instructor at the Moscow State Art Institute. His legacy is defined by his mastery of portraiture and contributions to Soviet art and education.

Efanov’s Portrait of Konstantin Simonov captures the renowned Soviet author, poet, and playwright born into a military family in St. Petersburg, best known for his patriotic works about World War II. Simonov served as a correspondent in several battle zones and saw more of the horrors of war than most; in many of his literary works, he recalled his war experiences. Efanov’s textured painting technique, particularly evident in the subject’s face and background, enhances the realism and emotional depth of the piece.