In oil on paper, measures 25" x 23". The scene shows revealing a large model of the famous monument by Vera Mukhina, Worker & Collective Farm Woman, to Stalin. This is a study, not detailed to any degree, but Stalin is clearly recognizable, and the figure leaning toward him from behind strongly resembles Molotov. The woman and man standing at the foot of the statue are the authors, sculptor Vera Mukhina and architect Boris Iofan.

In fair to good condition. The painting is a work-in-progress study, done in oil paints on paper, not a long-lasting combination of media, but as

In oil on paper, measures 25" x 23". The scene shows revealing a large model of the famous monument by Vera Mukhina, Worker & Collective Farm Woman, to Stalin. This is a study, not detailed to any degree, but Stalin is clearly recognizable, and the figure leaning toward him from behind strongly resembles Molotov. The woman and man standing at the foot of the statue are the authors, sculptor Vera Mukhina and architect Boris Iofan.

In fair to good condition. The painting is a work-in-progress study, done in oil paints on paper, not a long-lasting combination of media, but as such, it survived almost a century surprisingly well despite the frailty of the paper and the resulting wear, mostly to the edges. The worst offenders have been repaired and reinforced on the verso with acid-free tape. The colors are fresh and vibrant.

The monument was created to crown the USSR pavilion at the Paris World Fair of 1937. The giant 80-foot-tall monument was made of plates of stainless steel. The total weight of the internal carcass and the stainless-steel sculpture was approximately 75 tons. Once finished, the monument was inspected by a state commission headed by Narkom of Defense Kliment Voroshilov. Later that evening, it was shown to Stalin.

The USSR Pavilion was given space at the Fair directly opposite the German one, which featured a huge bronze Nazi eagle on the roof. The enormous pedestal and the statue on top of the Soviet pavilion totaled 60 meters (197 ft.) of height, striving to reach the height of the German pavilion, and the stainless steel of the monument reflected sunlight much better than bronze, so the Soviet worker and the kolkhoz woman outshined the Nazi eagle.

After the Fair, the monument was returned to the Soviet Union. The crew working on disassembling the statue did a barbaric job, cutting the monument into 44 pieces and loading them onto open flatbeds. The damage was considerable but restoration was done and the monument was erected, albeit on a shorter pedestal, in front of the main entrance to the VSKhV, All-Union Agricultural Exhibition Fairgrounds in Moscow. The last restoration of the monument was done in the early 2000s. According to some sources, it cost about 2.9 billion rubles (almost 97 million USD). How much of that went to actually restore the monument, will forever remain hidden.

NOTE: the painting has been stored rolled up and will be shipped rolled up, in a sturdy tube. The paper has acquired considerable rigidity, so the painting should be professionally framed; in our opinion, it is the only way of displaying it properly.

Please note that the photos of the monument at the Paris Fair and in Moscow are for illustrative purposes only and are not included with the painting.

Please note that the 1-ft. ruler in our photo is for size reference.
$240.00  Add to cart