As in the Stalin era, photos photos

As in the Stalin era, photos photos

The author managed to visit the exhibition "The Vanishing Commissar" in the Moscow Museum of History of the Gulag. The topic was devoted to the falsification of photographs in the Stalin era. People disappeared from photographs one by one, as they disappear from life or from the political arena. And you say photoshop.

The first is that the falsification of photographs in Soviet propaganda had not only a long history, but also an excellent technological school. However, sometimes it was just about skillful retouching - the faces of the leaders had to look exemplary. Here is the same picture of Stalin - before and after processing.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

Retouchers could easily change characters to clothes. Apparently, Laurentia Beria liked Laurentia Beria's own face in this photo - but for publication he preferred not to be in uniform, but in civilian clothes.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

The change was also promptly subjected to long-standing, historical photographs. Here is a collection of exiled Bolsheviks - summer 1915, Turukhansk region. Stalin in the back row, in a black hat. A little to the right - Lev Kamenev (he with a mustache). Subsequently, the enemy - and here in the photo it no longer exists. True, this is still a primitive method: instead of a figure - an indistinct dark spot.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

A well-known shot - Lenin and Krupskaya with children in the village of Kashino. But in fact, there were adult villagers in the picture - later almost completely de-kulaks and exiles. Just in case the frame was cut off, and the background was darkened.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

Group photo of 1919, VIII Congress of the RCP (B.). The publication of the snapshot fragment is known, where three are depicted - Stalin, Lenin and Kalinin. But then Kalinin also disappears - why is there a third, when everyone should be clear who is the only true successor to the leader.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

But still here we are talking about a simple pruning. There were receptions and more difficult. Here in the frame of the revolutionary soldiers - but under some kind of black flag, and in the background an advertising signboard. Alle op! - and now we have the right slogans (although on the increase it is clear that the font came out really very ugly).

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

Here, of the eight characters left four. But on the source Frunze (second from the left), Voroshilov (fifth), Stalin (sixth) and Ordzhonikidze (eighth) are not close. Do not worry - cut them with a thin scalpel and move. True, it was not without marriage - on the side of Frunze, from where the falling shadow comes from.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

As you can see in this photo, made in Baku in 1920, there were tasks and more difficult. Here in the left part you can see Kirov and Ordzhonikidze. Cut them out is not a question. But to move to them in the company from the right side of the picture Anastas Mikoyan had to break his head - in fact, due to the general perspective, he went out about half as tall. But it was overcome.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

But especially diligently vymaryvali from the photo story of Leon Trotsky. Not embarrassed even by the fact that the pictures were repeatedly published. Here is this famous photo, where Lenin and Trotsky are nearby, even became the basis for Diego Rivera's painting. But in later publications, the cadres are circumcised in such a way that Trotsky can not be seen (although his elbow remains unknown - so this is his).

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

But there were falsifiers and pomasterovite. Here Lenin speaks at a rally (Moscow, May 5, 1920), and on the steps near the platform - Trotsky (and behind him, even if not very prominent - also Kamenev). The photo is very well known, but in the editions after 1927 there are already no one on the steps.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

By the way, in 1933 the master of socialist realism Isaak Brodsky was entrusted to perpetuate this scene in a picturesque way. Violation of the composition of a well-trained artist still, probably, felt the skin - and in place of the disappeared politicians appeared ... journalists.

 As in the Stalin era, photos of the USSR, people, Stalin, falsification, photoshop

Another example of diligent work.