World history: Exhibition “The First World War in images and events” in Omsk

On the eve of the anniversary date – the 100th anniversary of the First World War – in the M. A. Vrubel Omsk Regional museum of Fine Arts on July 25, 2014 opens the exhibition ““Our Brave Cossack Kryuchkov…” The First World War in images and events”.

The exposition features not previously demonstrated collections of military posters and prints created in the first weeks and months of the war. Among them is “Our Brave Cossack Kryuchkov” and “The 1-st Hero”, at which is depicted the Don Cossack Kozma Kryuchkov - a legendary personality, who has become a symbol of courage and invincibility of the Russian army.

The poster of the First World War – is a unique phenomenon of Russian culture, combining the features of classical, folk and avant-garde art. For them, the texts were often written on the basis of official reports of newspapers and magazines. Such explanations included location, date of event, as well as information about the losses of the enemy side.

Writers, artists, actors, composers, inspired by one impulse to help the front, often created works of art, filled with patriotic symbols and mythological associations. Such examples include the sketch “The Castle” for the painting of Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) “Doomed” (1914). The exposition included watercolor by E. E. Lansere (1875-1946) “Sarakamysh”, created in January 1915 and is reminiscent of the victorious of the Sarakamyshskaya operation 1914-1915. It was a powerful land battle of Russian and Turkish armies. E. E. Lansere was one of many artists who performed the role of war correspondents.

A special place in the exhibition takes a series of lithographs by N. S. Goncharova (1881-1962) “Mystical Images of War”, which was created in 1914 in Moscow. Panorama of these works includes images of St. Michael, George and Alexander Nevsky. They emphasize the crucial role of Russia in preventing the final battle between Good and Evil.

Unique exhibits include a series of small-format drawings depicting life of a German soldier Moritz. This collection, created during the war by an unknown Russian author and reminiscent of comic books, is associated with the famous literary masterpiece of Jaroslav Hasek “The Adventure of Good Soldier Svejk”. 

The exhibition also features books, postcards, photographs of Omsk people – participants of the First World War.