John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Sarasota, FL
This exhibition presents photojournalism from two key historic moments of the former Soviet Union: WWII and the August Coup of 1991 that ended the communist regime. It features photos from the Ringling’s permanent collection. Soviet Scenes showcases World War II through the lens of acclaimed photographer Dmitri Baltermants, whose work functioned as state-endorsed war propaganda but also present the emotional toll of war in terms that continue to resonate. In contrast, the August Coup is shown through a range of press images, featuring photographs by Shepard Sherbell, among others, that witness the dissolution of the empire and document life in countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. This exhibition showcases various styles of photojournalism and documentary, as distinctive content from each time period underscores both the climax and collapse of the Soviet era.
Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Sarasota, FL