IMAGES OF THE ORIENT IN SOVIET PORCELAIN SCULPTURE OF THE 1930S: “RUSTEM” BY RIMMA NIKOLAEVA AND “SHOTA RUSTAVELI” BY NATALIA DANKO
Oriental and folklore problems occupied a significant place in Soviet porcelain sculptures of the 1930s. It was a continuation of the traditions that developed in the first post-revolutionary years. This reflected the ideological line of that time with its focus on the “Orient” and to the heroic epic. In the article, the researcher examined the historical and cultural context and artistic qualities of the sculptural group “Rustem” by Rimma Nikolaeva and the inkwell “Shota Rustaveli” by Natalia Danko, considering the pieces from the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory of the State Hermitage. The jubilee celebrations dedicated to Abu-l-Qasim Firdowsi (1934) and Shota Rustaveli (1937) contributed to the growth of translation and scientific activity in relation to their works, as well as popularization of their creative heritage which acquired new social and political connotations in Soviet culture. The author underlined that in the sculptural image of Firdowsi's hero Rustem, Rimma Nikolaeva emphasized his fabulous epic character, his strength, and determination and paid special attention to the details of his costume. A. V. Vorob'evsky's painting gave decorative expression to the sculptural group (versions 1936 and 1937). The researcher accented that Natalia Danko interpreted the image of Shota Rustaveli according to the poet's “iconography” that was traditional for Soviet art. Nevertheless, she made his image more poetic and intimate. In their creative manner, artists Elena Danko (1938), Mikhail Mokh (1938), Elizaveta Lupanova (1941), Alexey Vorob'evsky (1938) made original paintings of the inkwell Shota Rustaveli, emphasizing the romantic character of the sculptural image.