Measures approx. 31" x 19 ½". Original painting by Boris Popov. The painting does not have the artist's hand-written signature but the picture was acquired in a group of paintings by this artist and we guarantee its authenticity. The style of brushstrokes, the artist's "handwriting" also speaks for itself when comparing this portrait with other works by B. Popov. The paper tag on the verso is that of the arts salon for export works under the Artistic Fund of the USSR. It also identifies the artist's name, "Попов" (Popov). The painting is a portrait of a "f

Measures approx. 31" x 19 ½". Original painting by Boris Popov. The painting does not have the artist's hand-written signature but the picture was acquired in a group of paintings by this artist and we guarantee its authenticity. The style of brushstrokes, the artist's "handwriting" also speaks for itself when comparing this portrait with other works by B. Popov. The paper tag on the verso is that of the arts salon for export works under the Artistic Fund of the USSR. It also identifies the artist's name, "Попов" (Popov). The painting is a portrait of a "foremost worker", the term coined by the Soviet government to describe the best, most productive workers who are also politically active and participate in the local politics as elected representatives of their factory, municipality or region. The awards seen on the man's jacket, from the viewer's left to right, are a badge of a winner in socialist competition, a medal of a participant in the VDNKh (All-Union Exhibition of Economic Achievements), a lapel pin of a member of a municipal or regional Workers' Soviet and finally, an Order Red Banner of Labor. The verbiage on the award banner in the background identifies it as a transferrable banner for the winner of an All-Union socialist competition among workers of some profession. Unfortunately, we do not see which profession is specified on the banner. Regardless, all these awards entitled their awardee to special benefits, be it monetary premiums, a decent (by Soviet standards) apartment, or just access to special groceries stores where the elite could buy good quality foods for nominal prices. And, looking at the flabby overweight foremost worker in the painting, it becomes rather clear where he has been spending most of his working time lately.

The painting is in very good condition. Even though the artist's style is characterized by very powerful bold brushstrokes and use of large quantities of paint, there is only a minor area of partial paint loss on top of the award banner. On the verso, we see that the canvas is strong, apart from the obvious and unavoidable wear to the raw edge.

It is rather uncommon to come across a genuine original Socialist Realism painting from that era. Most of what is available is much more recent reproductions, mass-produced to decorate the walls of various organizations.

The artist, Boris Nikanorovich Popov (Борис Никанорович Попов, 1909-2001) was a prominent Soviet Russian painter, master of graphic arts, theater stage decorator. He started his career in the early 1930s as a theater stage decorator, working in theaters of Vladivostok, Achinsk and other theaters of the Soviet Far East and Siberia. Following that, he moved on to painting, specializing in portraits and landscapes. He took part in a large number of art exhibitions, played an active role in the Moscow Chapter of the Union of Soviet Artists, and was made Distinguished Artist of RSFSR (a very high Soviet-era official title of recognition bestowed very sparingly). His works are on exhibit in museums of Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Donetsk as well as in several private collections.

Please note that the actual Order Red Banner of Labor in our photo is for size reference only and is not part of the sale. However, we have them available in the Order Red Banner of Labor section of our website.
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