Customer Reviews

Russia: A Portrait

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book contains seventy-two black and white images of the former Soviet Union taken by Soviet photo jornalist, Lev Poliakov. Most of the photos were take in the 1960's although there are a few from the early 1970's. Most of them are both landscapes and portraits and generally show ordinary people doing ordinary things. My favorite photo of the book shows more than just ordinary activity. It is a 1970 photograph of a bearded man in swim trunks and a towel standing on the the frozen Neva River. The ice has been cut away, and the man is apparently drying himself off after dip in the frigid river. Watching him are three young children bundled up in scarves, hats, and heavy winter clothes. In the backgound of the image can be seen Leningrad's (now St Petersburg's) Winter Palace, Admiralty, and St. Isaac's Cathedral. Since I have two adopted children from Russia, I appreciate the honesty of Poliakov's images. So many books on Russia over emphasize the beautiful palaces, museums, and churches. Poliakov has found beauty in the ordinary and is able to present a more honest image of what was Russia. This book would be a great addition to the library of anyone with an interest in Russia.