A. Ivanova A. M. Siberia to the Warfront. For VDNKH (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy)

Ukrainian inscription in simple pencil below the photograph: "A. Ivanova / Siberia to the War Front / 1946 for VDNKH" (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). From 1946, the official name of this project was "VSGV" (All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, until 1959), so it is chronologically incorrect to refer to "VDNKH". As for the work, there are five rectangles with scenes in a rectangular vertical format, illustrating how home front workers sent everything necessary for the military to the front during the war against the Nazis. All the scenes are separated by ornamental stripes with triangles as the basic motif. The first scene above shows people packing something into barrel-shaped containers, probably some non-perishable food. The next scene shows a woman grazing a group of animals that look like deer in silhouette but with long tails below the knee joints. In the centre, we see two representatives of the indigenous peoples of the north of the USSR, dressed in national costume, holding large fish (probably from the whitefish family). Below are three sheaves of grain, with two sickles next to them (this composition is interpreted as ornamental). The work is completed by a composition similar to the central one, with two representatives of the indigenous peoples of the northern USSR holding skins of furred animals. In general, due to the small size of the picture and the inability to see the details, it is difficult to say how intensively this work reflects the principles inherent in the practice of the artists of Mykhailo Boichuk's circle. However, the influence of the folk art style is undeniable. Antonina Ivanova was interested in the indigenous peoples of the northern USSR; in particular, the Gallery's collection includes "Head of a Girl from Chukotka" (Ж-5149, cardboard, tempera, c. 1950s), and in this work, we can trace the influence of the artist's teacher's practice at the level of formal and figurative execution.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery