Bowdoin College Museum of Art | - Let Us Build a Dirigible Fleet in Lenin’s Name (Russian Version)

Preview image of work. lithograph on paper, Let Us Build a Dirigible Fleet in Lenin’s Name (Russian Version) 33051

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Let Us Build a Dirigible Fleet in Lenin’s Name (Russian Version)

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Artist

Georgi Vladimirovich Kibardin (1903 - 1963)

Title

Let Us Build a Dirigible Fleet in Lenin’s Name (Russian Version)

Creation Date

1931

Century

mid-20th century

Dimensions

49 1/2 x 37 1/2 in. (125.73 x 95.25 cm)

Object Type

Creation Place

Asia, Russia

Medium and Support

lithograph on paper

Credit Line

Generously lent by Svetlana and Eric Silverman ’85, P’19

Copyright

This artwork may be under copyright. For further information, please consult the Museum’s Copyright Terms and Conditions.

The dirigible airship was a prominent symbol of Soviet power associated with technological progress. Dominating the sky, the aircraft speak about the Soviet people’s—perhaps utopian—quest for the mastery of space. In this poster, photomontage is used as a means of defining the essence of collective aspirations, constructing a vision of the present with the Communist future in sight. The composition relies on a minimalist geometric framework of the interrelated diagonals. While Lenin is portrayed as the undying leader, Stalin’s role is clearly visible as well. Among the names of old Bolsheviks showcased by the squadron of airships, Lenin’s and Stalin’s are the most prominent.