Collection of anti-religious drawings and lithographs from the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
National Museum of History of Moldova possesses a collection of anti-religious drawings and lithographs in an amount of 52 units. Of these, 24 lithographs relate to the series "Commandments and Symbols" (by B. Shirokorad), 11 drawings to the series "God on Earth", another 15 drawings touch different anti-religious topics (author A. Grabco). Graphic works of this collection, which is part of the anti-religious campaign, are characterized by mordant sense, bright colors, simple and catchy slogans denigrating and deriding everything that expressed religious beliefs.
Using expressive art images along with the severity of the laws, the Communists hoped to convince the masses that religion is nothing more than "a manifestation of the decadence of capitalism", a consequence of the retrograde, the counter-revolutionary thinking an unforgivable crime in the Soviet Union. These works reflect only some of the methods from the rich arsenal used by the Soviet authorities in the fight against the Moldavian Orthodox Church.
List of illustrations: 1. Cross. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1961. 2. The Book of Genesis. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1961. 3. Candle-end. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1963. 4. Vesper chimes. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1961. 5. Trinity. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1963. 6. Church feasts. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1963. 7. The messenger of heaven. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1964. 8. Armageddon. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1964. 9. Sectarian. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1964. 10. Thou shalt not murder. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1963. 11. They all look the same. Autolithograph by B. Shirokorad, 1963. 12. Drawing (from the series "Satirical sheets on anti-religious themes") by A. Grabco, 1962. 13. The support of the church. Drawing by A. Grabco, 1962. 14. Settled. Drawing by A. Grabco, 1962.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
