The Commissar Vanishes: A Visual History of Stalin's Photo Falsification
The Commissar Vanishes: How Stalin Erased His Enemies from History
Have you ever wondered how history is written and rewritten? How images can be manipulated and fabricated to serve a political agenda? How people can be erased from existence with a stroke of a brush or a click of a mouse?
The Commissar Vanishes.pdf
If you have, then you might be interested in reading The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia, a book by David King that exposes one of the most notorious cases of photo falsification in history.
Introduction
The Commissar Vanishes is a book that offers a chilling look at how Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1953, manipulated the science of photography to advance his own political career and to erase memories of his victims.
On Stalin's orders, purged rivals were airbrushed from group portraits, crowd scenes were altered to depict even greater legions of faithful followers, historical events were changed to suit his narrative, and fake photographs were created to show him as a close friend of Lenin and other leaders.
The book is based on the David King collection, which contains more than a quarter of a million images, posters, and paintings from the Soviet era. King, a photohistorian and graphic designer, has spent more than three decades collecting, analyzing, and restoring these images. He has selected the best examples for The Commissar Vanishes, many of which are published here for the first time outside Russia.
The book is not only a visual history of Stalin's photo falsification, but also a compelling account of his political repression and terror. It shows how Stalin eliminated his enemies, real or imagined, and how he distorted the historical record and memory of the Soviet Union. It also raises important questions about the ethics and effects of photo manipulation, especially in today's world of digital technology and fake news.
The Origins of Stalin's Photo Manipulation
Stalin's photo manipulation began with his rise to power in the late 1920s, after the death of Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Stalin faced fierce competition from other members of the Communist Party, such as Leon Trotsky, Nikolai Bukharin, Grigory Zinoviev, and Lev Kamenev. He gradually eliminated them from the party and from history, using a combination of propaganda, censorship, and violence.
Stalin also created a cult of personality around himself, portraying himself as the true successor of Lenin and the savior of the Soviet Union. He used various media, such as newspapers, posters, films, and books, to spread his image and ideology. He also employed artists and photographers to alter images and create new ones that glorified him and his achievements.
Stalin's photo manipulation was not only a personal vanity project, but also a political weapon. He used it to rewrite history according to his wishes, to justify his policies and actions, and to intimidate and deceive his people and his enemies. He also used it to erase any traces of his mistakes and failures, such as the famine of 1932-1933, the purges of 1936-1938, and the Nazi invasion of 1941.
The Techniques and Effects of Stalin's Photo Falsification
Stalin's photo falsification involved various techniques, such as airbrushing, cropping, retouching, and montage. Airbrushing was the most common method, which involved spraying paint over unwanted parts of a photograph. Cropping was another technique, which involved cutting out parts of a photograph. Retouching was a more subtle technique, which involved changing details or adding elements to a photograph. Montage was a more complex technique, which involved combining parts of different photographs to create a new one.
Stalin used these techniques to erase people from photographs, either because they had fallen out of favor with him or because they had been executed or exiled. He also changed crowd scenes, landscapes, and historical events to suit his narrative. For example, he increased the size of crowds at rallies and parades to show his popularity; he removed buildings or monuments that reminded him of his enemies or his past; he altered the dates or locations of events to claim credit or avoid blame.
Stalin also created fake photographs of himself with Lenin and other leaders to show his closeness and loyalty to them. He often inserted himself into photographs where he was not originally present or moved himself closer to the center of attention. He also fabricated photographs that never happened or that contradicted reality. For example, he created a photograph of himself with Lenin at the Kremlin in 1919, when he was actually in another city; he created a photograph of himself with Soviet soldiers in Berlin in 1945, when he never left Moscow during World War II.
Stalin's photo falsification had a profound impact on the art and culture of the Soviet Union. He imposed his aesthetic preferences and ideological demands on artists and photographers, who had to follow strict guidelines and censorship rules. He also influenced the public perception and reception of art and photography, which became tools of propaganda and indoctrination rather than expressions of creativity and truth.
The Examples and Evidence of Stalin's Photo Falsification
The Commissar Vanishes provides many examples and evidence of Stalin's photo falsification. The book is divided into nine chapters, each focusing on a different aspect or period of Stalin's rule. Each chapter contains dozens of images that illustrate Stalin's photo manipulation techniques and effects.
King compares the original and doctored images to reveal the changes and deletions that Stalin made. He also provides historical context and biographical information for each image. He explains who were the people that Stalin erased from history, what were their roles and fates in the Soviet Union, and why were they targeted by Stalin.
King also shows the tragic and often absurd consequences of Stalin's photo falsification for his victims and for history. He shows how people who were once celebrated as heroes or comrades became enemies or nonentities overnight; how people who were once friends or allies became rivals or traitors over time; how people who were once alive or present became dead or absent without explanation.
The Conclusion and Implications of Stalin's Photo Falsification
The Conclusion and Implications of Stalin's Photo Falsification
The Commissar Vanishes concludes with a sobering reflection on Stalin's photo falsification as part of his larger campaign of political repression and terror. It shows how Stalin killed millions of people, not only physically but also symbolically, by erasing them from history and memory. It also shows how Stalin distorted the historical record and memory of the Soviet Union, by creating a false image of himself and his regime.
The Commissar Vanishes also has relevance for today's world, where digital technology and social media have made photo manipulation easier and more widespread. It warns us about the dangers and effects of photo falsification, especially in the context of fake news and misinformation. It urges us to be critical and vigilant consumers of images, to question their sources and authenticity, and to seek the truth behind them.
The Commissar Vanishes is a book that reveals one of the darkest chapters of modern history, but also one of the most fascinating and important ones. It is a book that challenges us to think about how history is made and remade, how images can shape and reshape reality, and how people can disappear and reappear in history.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about The Commissar Vanishes and Stalin's photo falsification.
What are some of the most famous examples of Stalin's photo falsification?
Some of the most famous examples are: - The photograph of Stalin with Lenin at the Kremlin in 1919, which was fabricated by inserting Stalin into a photograph of Lenin with three other men. - The photograph of Stalin with Nikolai Yezhov, the head of the secret police, at the Moscow-Volga Canal in 1937, which was altered by airbrushing Yezhov out after he was executed in 1940. - The photograph of Stalin with three Soviet marshals at the Yalta Conference in 1945, which was retouched by adding medals to Stalin's uniform and removing a cigarette from his hand.
How did King acquire his collection of Soviet images?
King acquired his collection of Soviet images through various sources and methods. He bought some images from antique dealers and collectors in London and Moscow. He borrowed some images from archives and libraries in Russia and other countries. He also received some images from former Soviet citizens who had kept them as souvenirs or evidence.
How did King verify the authenticity of the images?
King verified the authenticity of the images by comparing them with other sources and documents, such as newspapers, magazines, books, films, posters, paintings, and sculptures. He also consulted experts and historians who specialized in Soviet art and photography. He also used his own knowledge and intuition as a photohistorian and graphic designer.
What are some of the challenges and limitations of studying photo falsification?
Some of the challenges and limitations of studying photo falsification are: - The scarcity and fragility of original images, which may have been lost, damaged, or destroyed over time. - The difficulty and uncertainty of identifying changes and deletions in images, which may have been subtle or sophisticated. - The lack and unreliability of historical context and biographical information for images, which may have been censored or falsified by the authorities. - The ethical and moral dilemmas of restoring or reproducing images, which may involve altering or violating their original meaning or intention.
What are some of the ethical and moral issues raised by photo falsification?
Some of the ethical and moral issues raised by photo falsification are: - The violation of human rights and dignity, by denying or distorting people's existence and identity. - The manipulation of public opinion and emotion, by creating or reinforcing false or biased impressions or beliefs. - The distortion of historical truth and memory, by altering or erasing facts or events. - The abuse of power and authority, by using images as tools of propaganda and indoctrination.
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