In 2014, the 125th anniversary of the birth of the great Soviet sculptor Vera Mukhina was celebrated. Her name is known to every person living in the post-Soviet space, because it is inextricably linked with the monumental creation of the artist - the sculptural composition "Worker and Collective Farm Girl".
Biography of Vera Mukhina
Vera Ignatievna was born in 1889 in a wealthy merchant family. She lost her parents very early and was brought up by guardians. From childhood, Vera was distinguished by perseverance and perseverance. Her passion for painting gradually grew into a craft, which she studied for two years in Paris at the Grand Schaumier Academy. The girl’s teacher was the famous sculptor Bourdelle. Then Mukhina moved to Italy, where she studied painting and sculpture by Renaissance masters.
During the First World War, Mukhina worked as a nurse of mercy in a hospital. Her first meeting with the surgeon Alexei Andreevich Zamkov took place there, with which she was soon married. Non-proletarian descent of the family often endangered the lives of its members. Mukhina's active participation in the revolutionary changes of the country was reflected in sculptural compositions. Heroes Mukhina differed power and life-affirming force.
Vera Ignatievna worked hard and hard all her life. Having lost her husband in 1942, she was very upset by this loss. An unhealthy heart allowed Mukhina to live a little more than ten years after the departure of her husband. In 1953, she died, being not at all an old woman - she was 64 years old.
How it all began
For her bright and eventful life, Vera Mukhina has created a considerable number of artistic creations, including paintings, sculptures, glassware. Unfortunately, most of the work remained unknown to a wide circle of fans of her talent. The main creation of Mukhina’s life, which has glorified her for many years, is the sculpture “Worker and Collective Farm Girl”. Vera Ignatievna herself called her composition “Worker and Peasant Woman”. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, the creation of the sculptor was defined as "the standard of socialist realism."
In 1936, the Soviet government received an invitation from France to take part in the Paris World Exhibition. The official theme of the large-scale event: "Art and technology in modern life."
The Soviet Union was very important not only to participate in the exhibition, which is of great international importance, the country needed to win the competition at any cost. The world was on the verge of World War II, and competition in the field of technological advances actually meant a tough struggle between the two world political systems. The main competitors of the USSR for the championship were Italy and Germany.
Victory of the sculpture idea “ Worker and Collective Farm Girl”
The Soviet government set the task not only to create a grandiose technological and architectural project, but also to strongly emphasize its ideological orientation. In accordance with the long-term rules of the exhibition, participating countries must design their pavilions in a national style. The Soviet project was intended to show the world the superiority of the domestic economic system.
Many eminent and venerable architects of that time took part in the announced competition for the design of the pavilion. The victory was won by Boris Iofan, who created a project in the classical style, the central part of which was occupied by sculpture. The high commission approved the idea as a whole, but rejected the monument. The next competition was held immediately, as a result of which Vera Mukhina won.
The author of the monument “Worker and Collective Farm Girl” amazed the commission’s imagination with the scale of the sculptural duet, which is distinguished by its lightness and aimed forward. The simple facial features of the heroes of the monument attracted attention with their youth and spirituality, and the waving scarf symbolized the rapid movement towards a brighter future. Ascended over his head, the sickle and hammer personified the unity of labor of workers and the collective farm peasantry.
Stages of the erection of the monument - difficulties and achievements
Now it was necessary to accelerate the pace to create a building in true size. The sculpture "Worker and Collective Farm Girl", according to the author, was of gigantic height - 25 meters. Only six months were allotted for the implementation of tremendous work.
The large size of the monument was intended not only to attract attention by its size, it was supposed to shine over Paris. As a basis for the construction of the sculpture, bronze or copper was considered. These metals are distinguished by solidity and noble appearance. But they did not provide the planned radiation, because they absorbed light. Therefore, the sculptor of the monument "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" Vera Mukhina decided to erect a monument of stainless steel sheet.
At first, the form of the composition was knocked together from wooden blocks, the surfaces were machined with carpentry tools and achieved perfect smoothness. Then, on top of the wooden base, the thinnest sheets of steel were laid, the thickness of which did not exceed a millimeter. The steel shell completely repeated the wooden form. Inside, the steel mosaic was fastened with welds.
The selection committee, headed by the Soviet leader, approved the finished monument. At the next stage, the composition “Worker and Collective Farm Girl” was to go to Paris. For ease of transportation, the monument was divided into sixty-five parts and loaded into the train. The total weight of the structure was 75 tons, of which only 12 tons were allocated to the steel cladding. Three dozen freight cars were involved in transporting the monument, tools and hoisting mechanisms.
Parisians rave reviews
When transporting, unfortunately, not without damage. In the process of installation work, flaws were quickly eliminated, but just at the appointed time, May 25, 1937, the monument “Worker and Collective Farm Girl” shone in the Paris sky. The delight of Parisians and exhibitors knew no bounds.
The steel composition admired the beauty and splendor, shimmering in the sun's rays in all kinds of shades. The Eiffel Tower, located in close proximity to Soviet sculpture, was losing its grandeur and attractiveness.
The Soviet monument was awarded the gold medal - Grand Prix. Vera Mukhina, a modest and talented Soviet sculptor, could rightly be proud of the achieved result. The “Worker and Collective Farm Girl” immediately acquired the status of a symbol of the Soviet state in the eyes of the whole world.
At the end of the exhibition, the Soviet delegation received an offer from the French side to sell the sculptural composition. The leadership of the USSR, of course, refused.
Where is the famous Soviet monument
The sculpture group "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" safely returned to their homeland and was soon installed at their permanent place of residence - in front of one of the entrances to the Exhibition of Economic Achievements (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy). Today this territory belongs to the All-Russian Exhibition Center (All-Russian Exhibition Center), one of the most visited places in Moscow by numerous residents and guests of the capital.
The author of the monument "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" Vera Mukhina did not approve the installation site. And the sculpture became lower in height due to the fact that the pedestal was three times reduced in size. Vera Ignatievna liked the area on the arrow of the Moscow River, where Peter the Great is now working Tsereteli. She also offered an observation deck on the Sparrow Hills. However, they did not listen to her opinion.
"Worker and Collective Farm Girl" - the world-famous symbol of the Soviet era
Since the Paris exhibition, the sculptural composition has become a national sign of the Soviet state, circulated around the world in the form of postage stamps, postcards, commemorative coins, and albums with reproductions. The image of the famous monument appeared in the form of numerous souvenirs and in its popularity could only compete with the Russian nesting doll. And since 1947, the Mosfilm film studio began to use the famous sculpture "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" in its screensavers, thereby confirming it as an emblem of the Soviet country.
Vera Mukhina - a recognized master of sculpture
In gratitude, the Soviet government awarded Vera Mukhin the Stalin Prize. In addition, there were many other awards and various government benefits that the famous female sculptor received. "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" gave Mukhina the opportunity to enjoy complete freedom in her creative activity. But, to the great regret of the descendants, the legendary sculptor remained in memory only as the author of the only monument.
In the museum of Vera Mukhina, located at the base of the pedestal of the famous sculpture, there are many photo documents, newsreels, indicating that Vera Ignatievna worked hard and fruitfully. She painted, created sculptural projects and compositions of glass. The museum presents many sketchy models of the monuments, which the famous female sculptor was never able to bring to life. “Worker and Collective Farm Girl” is not the only monument to Mukhina’s work in Moscow.
Other creations of Vera Mukhina
The hands of a talented creator erected a monument to Tchaikovsky, located in front of the Moscow Conservatory, as well as Maxim Gorky at the Belorussky Train Station. The author owns the sculptural compositions “Science”, “Bread”, “Fertility”.
Vera Mukhina took an active part in the work on sculptural groups located on Moskvoretsky bridge. For her work, Vera Ignatyevna was repeatedly awarded with government orders, the highest Soviet prizes, she was elected a member of the Presidium of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union.
Along with creativity, Vera Mukhina was engaged in teaching activities. Later she began to work actively at the Leningrad plant, creating compositions of glass and porcelain as an author. "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" for many years of standing in the open air received significant damage.
The rebirth of the monumental monument
In 2003, it was decided to reconstruct the famous sculpture. The monument was dismantled and for the convenience of work is divided into many fragments. Restoration operations lasted about six years. The internal frame of the structure was strengthened, and the steel frame was cleaned from contamination and treated with protective chemicals that could extend the life of the monument. An updated sculptural composition was installed on a new high pedestal in December 2009. Now the monument has become twice as high as it was before.
Today, the monument “Worker and Collective Farm Girl” is not only a symbol of the Soviet era, but a monumental creation of the talented author Vera Mukhina, recognized throughout the world. The monument is a visiting card of Moscow, a landmark that is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the globe.