Contemporary Russian Life

Universal themes and story lines appeared in the Soviet Realism paintings. For example, in Leonova's The Beginning of Spring and the serene Spring (Beyond the Volga) by Alexei Pavelovich Belykh, the universal Russian love of nature is portrayed. The Beginning of Spring shows us a child optimistically looking forward to spring and new growth. Stylistically, Impressionism lent itself well to the goals of the state. Paintings such as Tea Time by Gourin present an optimistic glimpse of communist society. In Morning in the Virgin Lands, a painting by Anikeev, you can see how the artist's use of light and color creates a scene of comfortable, happy camaraderie. An academic approach to the same subject would not be as moving. By experimenting with Impressionism, artists were not only challenging themselves aritistically, but were proudly contributing to a vision of a future in which they shared.