Photographic encyclopedia of Soviet life: pioneers, constructions, collective farms

History
Ksenia Isaeva
Uzbek decade, scene from the play "Hurjat" staged by the Hamza State Academic Drama Theater

Uzbek decade, scene from the play "Hurjat" staged by the Hamza State Academic Drama Theater

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
The fantastic collection of color photographs of the Soviet Union from between 1950 and 1958 by Semyon Fridlyand, a Soviet photographer and master of color photography, have appeared in an archive at the University of Denver

20 thousand photographs by Semyon Fridlyand, a Soviet photographer and master of color photography, have appeared in an archive at the University of Denver.

20 thousand photographs by Semyon Fridlyand, a Soviet photographer and master of color photography, have appeared in an archive at the University of Denver.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
The fantastic collection of color photographs of the Soviet Union from between 1950 and 1958 are comparable in quality to modern digital photographs.

The fantastic collection of color photographs of the Soviet Union from between 1950 and 1958 are comparable in quality to modern digital photographs.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Semyon Fridlyand was born in the family of a cobbler in Kiev in 1905. He only completed 7 grades at school before joining the photography desk of Ogonyok magazine, one of the Soviet Union's oldest magazines.

Semyon Fridlyand was born in the family of a cobbler in Kiev in 1905. He only completed 7 grades at school before joining the photography desk of Ogonyok magazine, one of the Soviet Union's oldest magazines.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Over the magazine's nearly century-long history (it has been published in Moscow since 1924 and was founded in Saint Petersburg in 1899), it was known for its quality photo reports and bright cover photos.

Over the magazine's nearly century-long history (it has been published in Moscow since 1924 and was founded in Saint Petersburg in 1899), it was known for its quality photo reports and bright cover photos.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
The magazine glorified Soviet life. It recounted the stories of Soviet workers, the lives of collective farmers, record harvests, youth Pioneers, and Soviet art.

The magazine glorified Soviet life. It recounted the stories of Soviet workers, the lives of collective farmers, record harvests, youth Pioneers, and Soviet art.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Semyon Fridlyand quickly learned his way around photographical equipment and, starting in 1926, began printing his own photographs on the pages of Ogonyok. Afterwards, he worked as a photo editor at the Union agency

Semyon Fridlyand quickly learned his way around photographical equipment and, starting in 1926, began printing his own photographs on the pages of Ogonyok. Afterwards, he worked as a photo editor at the Union agency

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
In 1931, he headed the Russian Association of Proletarian Photographers, which affirmed the importance of displaying reality in photographs.

In 1931, he headed the Russian Association of Proletarian Photographers, which affirmed the importance of displaying reality in photographs.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Semyon Fridlyand worked for many Soviet publications, including SSSR na stroike (USSR Under Construction) magazine and the newspaper, Pravda. At the end of the 1930s, he led the Association of Moscow Photo Journalists.

Semyon Fridlyand worked for many Soviet publications, including SSSR na stroike (USSR Under Construction) magazine and the newspaper, Pravda. At the end of the 1930s, he led the Association of Moscow Photo Journalists.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Semyon Fridlyand's art organically combines elements of classical photography with adjusted composition.

Semyon Fridlyand's art organically combines elements of classical photography with adjusted composition.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
This kind of realistic style only began to be introduced starting in the mid-1950s, although it could be found in Fridlyand's work much earlier.

This kind of realistic style only began to be introduced starting in the mid-1950s, although it could be found in Fridlyand's work much earlier.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
This collection forms a genuine photographic encyclopedia of Soviet life

This collection forms a genuine photographic encyclopedia of Soviet life

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
As the head of Ogonyok's photo department, Fridlyand had the right to shoot in places where other photographers were forbidden to do so.

As the head of Ogonyok's photo department, Fridlyand had the right to shoot in places where other photographers were forbidden to do so.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Fridlyand's collection includes both official pictures documenting occasions and events, as well as highly artistic works, true works of art by this talented master behind the lens.

Fridlyand's collection includes both official pictures documenting occasions and events, as well as highly artistic works, true works of art by this talented master behind the lens.

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Saratov (central Russia). Day nursery for children of Saratov railway workers

Saratov (central Russia). Day nursery for children of Saratov railway workers

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
On the boulevard a city newly-constructed in the empty steppe for the purposes of servicing the Volga-Don Canal, 1952

On the boulevard a city newly-constructed in the empty steppe for the purposes of servicing the Volga-Don Canal, 1952

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
First Captain Baryshev

First Captain Baryshev

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
A school for naturalists in the village of Ogurtsovo, Novosibirsk region

A school for naturalists in the village of Ogurtsovo, Novosibirsk region

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Reading Hall in the Palace of Culture

Reading Hall in the Palace of Culture

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
An excursion on a waterfall in the Norh Caucasus

An excursion on a waterfall in the Norh Caucasus

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver
Uzbek decade, scene from the play "Hurjat" staged by the Hamza State Academic Drama Theater

Uzbek decade, scene from the play "Hurjat" staged by the Hamza State Academic Drama Theater

Courtesy of the Dalbey Photographic Collection at the University of Denver

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