Culver City,
California
x
Boris the Victorious
Date Made: 1991
Country: Soviet Union
Measurements: 105 cm x 76 cm x 2.5 cm; 41 5/16 in x 29 15/16 in x in; 100 cm x 70.5 cm; 39 3/8 in x 27 3/4 in
Boris Yeltsin is represented in the likeness of St. George, the patron saint of the Russians and a holy figure that is traditionally associated with the triumph of good over evil. At the top of the poster design, the gold letters common in Russian Orthodox script spell out Boris the Victorious, mirroring the phrase usually used in reference to St. George. This image is a close replica of a ubiquitous Russian Orthodox icon that exhibits the saint slaying a dragon with a spear representing the Biblical story of St. George rescuing a princess. Rozhdestvin glorifies Yeltsin, giving him a divine purpose as the hand of God guides him from above. Instead of rescuing a princess, Yeltsin holds the White House topped with a Russian flag in his left hand, indicating his leadership of the Russian Federation after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This artwork references the August 1991 coup that took place when Gorbachev left the capital for a vacation in Crimea. During his leave, disgruntled members of the Communist Party tried to take control of the Kremlin, at first asking Gorbachev to relinquish his position willingly, then taking it by force after he refused to comply. They tried to reinstate firm Communist control only to have their efforts undermined on August 19th, 1991, when Boris Yeltsin and other activists arrived at the White House to demand the reinstatement of Gorbachev. The Communist leaders were unable to stand up to them, and as a further consequence, soon thereafter on December 25th, Gorbachev resigned and Boris Yeltsin became the leader who ultimately dissolved the Soviet Union and declared Communism to be illegal. The Communists are represented here by the snake that Yeltsin is piercing with his spear, forming the Russian letters that transliterate to “GKChP”, which is an acronym for the State Committee of the State of Emergency formed by the so called “gang of eight” from the Communist Party who had attempted the original coup.
Accession Number: 2009.053.020
Item Name: Painting
Credit Line: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
Collection/Series: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris