Vintage Photos of Soviets Taking Pictures with Their First Televisions
Artists Anna Pilipyuk and Vladimir Shipotilnikov recalled how the TV was a source of pride in the Soviet Union for their project “My First TV.” They gathered pictures of people between World War II and Perestroika taking pictures with their television sets. Continue reading »
Emotional Nostalgic Photos of Soviet Children that Have Become Iconic
Village children’s doctor conducts an examination. Dmitry Baltermants, 1970s
Young pioneers playing in a kindergarten, outdoor adventures, civil defense lessons – these aren’t just routine moments of Soviet childhood. You’ve probably encountered these scenes more than once, either because they’ve been emblematized as joyful snapshots of Soviet upbringing, or because of their sheer emotional intensity. We’ve meticulously curated the cream of the crop into a captivating collection you simply can’t miss! Continue reading »
The Scariest Soviet Toys Ever Made
Fluffy the Bunny
Within the vast collection of dolls produced in the USSR, some were universally cherished and desired by every child. However, others took a decidedly different route in their appeal. If you have a sensitive disposition towards such topics, please proceed with caution! Continue reading »
Photographer Fyodor Savintsev Captures ‘The Dacha’, A Unique Soviet Phenomenon
The ‘dacha’, a wooden country house, holds a special place in the hearts of those from the former USSR. Continue reading »
‘Flying Saucer’ Gas Stations in Kyiv From the Late 1970s and Early 1980s
In the 1970s, even the most mundane gas stations in the USSR were transformed into architectural masterpieces without sacrificing their functionality. In 1977, at least two such gas stations were built in Kyiv. Despite their unusual appearance, they were quite comfortable for drivers. Continue reading »
Soviet Spirit in Naive Illustrations of Angela Jerikh
Angela Jerikh from Donetsk, Ukraine, keeps painting the Soviet past with an ordinary man in the center of events. The one who has his simple desires, wants to love and to be loved, to drink with friends and enjoy other worldly pleasures apart from building global socialism. Continue reading »
Photographer Explores The Artefacts of Abandoned Former USSR Sites
A fountain at the former technical university in Gyumri, Armenia.
Relics of the Soviet conquest of space, Moscow Pioneer camps, remnants of propaganda along a journey sparsely dotted with statues of Stalin or Lenin, from traditional Moldovan houses to ghosts of the Caucasian wars, by way of petro-chemical factories in the Donbass… Continue reading »
Joyful Illustrations of the Artist Who Misses Soviet Days
Pin-up themed illustrations of Natalia Ershova bring back sweet memories of the Soviet times. Reminds me amazing illustrations of Valery Barykin. Continue reading »
Impressive Examples of Soviet Brutalism in Architecture
Brutalism – an architectural style of the XX century that separated from modernism. Architects who work in this style are soft on brutal forms and getting much concrete. Continue reading »
Fantastic Photos of the USSR in the 1950s You Haven’t Seen
Well, maybe you have seen some of these photos, however you are more likely to see the majority of them for the first time. All of them are colored and they literally help you dig into that special atmosphere. Amazing feeling of a time journey – 60-70 years into the past. Continue reading »
Cozy Past in Romantic and Nostalgic Paintings by Philipp Kubarev
Philipp Kubarev is the artist who soulfully depicts familiar images of the Soviet past, bringing back its warmth and romantic appeal. Nothing special – drinks, food, interiors… but it seems you feel the taste of those painted dishes, bubbles of champagne in the glass… Continue reading »
Global Brands Redesigned as If They Were from The USSR
In 2016, designer Mikhail Levchenko did a project called “USSR-styled Modern Brands,” in which he proposed logos for famous brands in the stylistics of the USSR. Continue reading »
French Photographer Jason Guilbeau Outsmarted Lockdown To Find The Former USSR’s Strangest Street Relics
French photographer Jason Guilbeau has used Google Street View to virtually navigate Russia and the former USSR, searching for examples of a forgotten Soviet empire. Continue reading »
Amazing Photos Of “Luxurious” Lada Stretched Limousines
Lada is a brand of cars manufactured by Russian automobile manufacturer AvtoVAZ (originally VAZ). The Lada brand appeared in 1973, and it has since become the main brand for AvtoVAZ vehicles. The name Lada is derived from a type of small boat in Slavic language, symbolized by the car’s logo. Continue reading »
Beautiful Vintage Photos Of The First Miss Soviet Union Beauty Pageant, 1988
“Moscow Beauty” was expected to become an annual event where prizes were free travel passes for trips abroad, cash, and luxurious (by Russian standards) gifts.
Beauty pageants (a mainstay in Western culture, particular America) were banned in the Soviet Union since 1959 – no scantily clad ladies, no cheeky fashion, no celebration of beauty and poise. Continue reading »
Vintage Photos Of Soviet People Took Posing With Their First TV Sets
Between the WWII and Perestroika periods Soviet people often treated a TV set like something to be proud of. They even made photos with a new home appliance. Continue reading »
German Soldiers Called These Soviet WW2 Tanks “Mickey Mouse”
It’s hard to find anything funny about World War II. However, sometimes soldiers had to (to keep spirits up).
The tank which caused a good mood among Wehrmacht soldiers was actually one of the most successful Soviet tanks of the 1930s – the BT-7. This light maneuverable tank was fast (up to 50 mph on road and 30 mph offroad) and armed with a 45 mm gun and two 7.62 mm machine guns – good enough to effectively fight against enemy infantry and light military equipment. Continue reading »
This Is How Soviets Imagined 21st Century Will Look Like: The Soviet Eera Sci-Fi Mag That Wanted To Predict The Future
Soviets tried to predict how will future look like, in one of their magazines called “Tekhnika Molodezhi” (“Youth’s Technics”) that was a very popular mag of their time. They were covering all the newest technological trends that would emerge in both close and distant future, and some things they actually guessed. They predicted a lot of crazy things too like Mountain cities (basically a huge building) that would settle millions of people inside (judge dread movie flashback), to underground cities but also a orbital space station that actually did happen. Continue reading »
The Lost Golden Age: Soviet Russia, As Seen By Photographer Vladimir Sokolaev
What’s the opposite of nostalgia? Remorse, maybe? Well, that is what Vladimir Solovev had captured; not so bright side of the Soviet era. Well-known documentary photographer in the 80-ties, Solovev was part of the famous creative group “Triva”. Continue reading »
Most Beautiful Remaining Street Mosaics From The Soviet Union
Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, much of the vast empire’s public art—or propaganda—has perished as well. Socialist Realism was the dominant style of the day—that is, art that bolstered the socialist message by glorifying the proletariat and celebrating civic triumphs. Continue reading »
Soviet ‘Thaw’ Of The 1960s Through The Lens Of Vladimir Lagrange
Happy workers from the staged, ideologically verified photos were replaced by reporting footage of the real life. The quasi thaw in Soviet politics led to a thaw in photography, as well. The official propaganda shots faded into the background and were replaced by vivid moments of real life. Continue reading »
After Watching Chernobyl, Couple Decided To Design Their Apartment In Soviet Style And Listed It In On Airbnb
According to Rasa Jusionyte: “There’s a famous line in HBO’s Chernobyl: “Comrades, we are so focused on our search for truth we fail to consider how few actually want us to find it”. And the truth is that “Chernobyl” was filmed in Vilnius. This apartment is located in the heart of the neighborhood that acted as Pripyat. Not only the location is unique but the apartment itself is an ode to Soviet life – from the plates you eat from to the bedding you sleep in, it’s as authentic and unique as it was back in the USSR! Continue reading »
A Time Travel To The Happy Childhood Times In The Soviet Russia
This is pure nostalgia, something so kind and dear, so touching and warm. It would be cool to travel back to that time for a few days. That happiness had a different taste. Continue reading »
Atmospheric Retro Images Of The USSR As Photographed By American Professor Thomas T. Hammond
Thomas T. Hammond, an American professor at the University of Virginia and a specialist in the history of Russia and the USSR, was taking photographs of Soviet Russia for long time, nineteen years during the 1950s, the 1960s and the 1970s. He paid many visits to the USSR with his family, saw Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Yaroslavl, Samarkand, Pyatigorsk, and Riga. Thomas used his photos as illustrations for his works – thus, for example, National Geographic Magazine published his material in a 1966 article, “A first look at the Soviet Union – An American in Moscow”. Continue reading »
“Out Of This World”: Photographer Egor Rogalev Visits The Museum Of Soviet Space Travel
Egor Rogalev was born in Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) in 1980. He has earned degree at the Department of Journalism at the Saint Petersburg state university. Egor mixes landscape photography with street portraiture exploring how people in post-Soviet countries correspond with transformation of urban and social environment. Continue reading »
