Bolshevik Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)

Description of Boris Kustodiev’s painting The Bolshevik

Perhaps there is not a person who would not be familiar with this painting. The painting was inspired by the October Revolution. The motive for the painting was the artist’s desire to convey to the viewer the image of the hero of that time, the Bolshevik.

In this picture, the character is painted for the first time by the artist in a completely atypical for him manner. Earlier Kustodiev never depicted unrealistic characters. In this case, there is a grotesque increase in the role of the Bolshevik figure.

A huge man in a hat with earflaps and a turtleneck walks through the streets of the capital with a huge waving flag of the Soviet country in his hands. The flag is huge, it is a symbol of the fire of the revolution. And everywhere people, people, people ... They are armed, they are determined to fight for their interests. He is an ordinary Russian man, an ordinary worker. He is just like everyone else who has taken to the streets. He walks confidently, clearly understanding where his path leads.

There is only one obstacle in front of him: the church. It is the church that symbolizes the imperial power, its last stronghold. But the giant will not be deterred by this, either - he takes a decisive step and crosses the church with ease. The movement of the revolutionaries is striking in its mass and force.

The giant seems to represent the leader of the crowd - he shows the people the right way, leading them to a new life. The Bolshevik shows them that there are no more obstacles and fear, and that only a bright future awaits the Soviet people.

The painting is filled with illusory notions about the very meaning of the revolution and its significance for the people. This is due, above all, to the author’s own misunderstanding of these issues. Kustodiev was very grateful to the Bolsheviks for their help in his work and appreciation of his talent. His gratitude was, to a large extent, the basis of this painting.