World history: Exhibition “Russia – to the army” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First World War in Moscow

29 January 2014
Source: The Russian State Art Library

January 29, 2014 the Russian State Art Library (RSAL) hosts the exhibition "Russia – to the army" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

The documents from the collections of the library of 1914-1918 are on display. Among them are the original photos of the front-line soldier A. S. Grachev made ​​at the theater of war operations. The atmosphere of wartime is created in the magazines "Niva", "The Sun of Russia", "Sparks", "Argus", "Women's Life" and many others, which have been published in the pages of reports from the field of military events.

The patriotic enthusiasm, that prevailed in 1914-1915, was marked by the departure to the army not only by mobilized militia, but also volunteers. Among them were many women who fought under assumed male names, like the heroine of 1812 N. Durova. Hundreds of children ran to the front line. The exhibition materials reflect these facts.

The forms of charity in this period are reflected in postcards and posters that are presented in the exposition. Back sides of postcards with the words "For the wounded soldiers on the frontline", "Relief Committee to fighters of Motherland of the Odessa school district" or "Every sold 2-3 postcards provide an opportunity to make a respirator for protection against asphyxiating gases" are of particular interest. 

A priority theme of the exhibition is the participation of cultural workers in the war. The theater of operations from 1914 to 1916 employed more than a thousand representatives of the creative intelligentsia. Among them were N. S. Gumilev, S. A. Yesenin, L. V. Sobinov, A. I. Kuprin, A. N. Vertinsky and many other outstanding artists.

The exhibition presents original albums of drawings and photographs of war veterans, graphic works of artists: E. E. Lansere, N. S. Goncharova, S. S. Solomko, M. D. Ezuchevsky, I. A. Vladimirov, S. A. Vinogradov, L. R. Sologub. The letters from the army and captivity, personal belongings of soldiers and unique military trophies are of great interest.

The exhibition at the non-stop shows a newsreel of fragments of 1914-1918, especially mounted by non-fiction film director D. V. Fedorin.