World history: Exhibition “Two Worlds of One War. To the First World War Centenary” in Saint-Petersburg

July 30, 2014 at the Museum of Political History of Russia (St. Petersburg) opens an art-documentary exhibition "Two Worlds of One War. To the First World War Centenary", which aims to show how a crisis of that time, including economic, reflected in the works of Russian and French artists.

The exhibition draws attention of visitors to the historic significance of the First World War - the confrontation that led to the redistribution of the world picture - in the context of new political challenges the beginning of the XXI century, and emphasizes the impact of war on culture and art. Most of the exhibits are demonstrated for the first time.

The basis of the exhibition is posters on the theme of war loans, issued in Russia and France. Russian posters are filled with faith in a quick victory. Posters call bond purchases a "feasible participation", calling for a "do his duty", "help close the front" and thus "to accelerate the victory over the enemy". Artists depict various heroic situation, working life in the rear. French posters, which are first presented to the public, are replete with examples of specific events. For example, one of them General F. Foch tracks the movement of troops, on the other a map of France with the boundaries of the fighting is depicted. Despite the differences in the political and banking systems of the two countries, posters have a common theme, their goal - to rally the public face of the enemy.

The view from the opposite side of the front presents by lithographs album "God with us" by German graphic artist George Grosz (1893-1959), a brilliant representative of German expressionism. Drawings by G. Gross, recreating the spirit of the grotesque situation in Germany in the early XX century, were considered at that time as "insulting the honor of the German army".

First World War shattered political stability: major European monarchy collapsed; there were a number of new states. The interaction of different countries and their involvement in the division of the world reflect the unique satirical map of Europe.

Clothing exhibits are also presented: gas masks for soldiers and horses, goggles used during the gas attack, bullets, helmets, etc. The tragedy is impartially given in postcards: front and rear, attack and retreat, wounded and refugees, destroyed homes and hospitals…

The periodical - journal "Chronicle of war", fixing the whole history of the conflict, is presented for the first time. Slide film, demonstrated at the exhibition, provides an opportunity to look through the pages of the magazine and the day-to-day chronicle of the events to follow.