Real USSR » metropolitan http://www.realussr.com Lifting The Iron Curtain Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:27:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Moscow Underground Without Stalin — See the Gaps http://www.realussr.com/ussr/moscow-underground-without-stalin-see-the-gaps/ http://www.realussr.com/ussr/moscow-underground-without-stalin-see-the-gaps/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:26:24 +0000 eugenia http://www.realussr.com/?p=1708 Continue reading → Related posts:
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  2. Photos of Moscow and Surroundings by Marc Riboud, 1960s
  3. Moscow Winters, Fragments of the 20th Century.
]]> Moscow Underground Without Stalin See the Gaps

The Moscow underground metro system, opened in 1935, is well known for its ornate decorations, outstanding architecture and artwork. Most of that art is in the socialist realism style, which has its purpose of reinforcing the goals of socialism and communism. In 1932 Joseph Stalin introduced the decree “On the Reconstruction of Literary and Art Organizations”, thus making socialist realism state policy. Understandably, Stalin became the face of this movement — due to strict censorship rules,  artists had to obey in order to avoid the punishment. So the majestic Moscow metropolitan system had bearings of many statues, portraits, mosaics of the man himself.

However, after his death, the Thaw and altogether the disintegration of the cult of his persona, images of Stalin were removed — no longer he was the face behind the socialism goals. Please read on to see the scars on the body of the finest example of the Soviet architecture — the Moscow Underground System.

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Kurskaya Circle Station, 1944. Stalin by Tomskiy. After the statue was moved, the place was taken by a kiosk.

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A mosaic: three women are embroidering a portrait of Stalin. Belorusskaja Station.

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Later Stalin was replaced by the Emblem of the Red Labour Flag.

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Later Stalin was replaced by the Emblem of the Red Labour Flag.

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The trumpets are praising noone: the part of the mosaic with the face of Stalin was removed. Paveletskaya Station

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This station, opened in 1944, was initially called Stalinskaya. In 1961 it was renamed as Semenovskaya.

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Semenovskaya Station nowadays.

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Semenovskaya, inside. Another portrait gone, not much polishing given.

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Dobryninskaya Station, open in 1950 — Yuri Gararin was a teenager then and could not be portrayed as yet. However he replaced Stalin in mid196s there.

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Elektrozavodskaya Station: at the back wall there used to be an ornament with a portrait of Stalin.

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Elektrozavodskaya Station, nowadays.

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Partizanskaya Staton. Above the statue is Stalin’s portrait and a quote “To defend our country is the most sacred duty of every citizen”.

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Partizanskaya Staton. Now both the quote and the portrait have been removed

Moscow Underground Without Stalin See the Gaps

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Related posts:

  1. Photos of Moscow and Surroundings by Marc Riboud, 1960s
  2. Photos of Moscow and Surroundings by Marc Riboud, 1960s
  3. Moscow Winters, Fragments of the 20th Century.

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