July 2015

Belokopvtov
Third Year Students of Moscow Regional School of Physical Culture; Rimma Rodomtseva & Vladimir Afonin
gelatin silver print
Collection of the MacLaren Art Centre.

In honour of the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in Toronto, the MacLaren Art Centre is featuring works from our Sovfoto Archive in an online exhibition. The Sovfoto Archive comprises over 23,000 vintage photographs documenting life in Soviet Russia between the years 1930 and 1959, and includes many photographs highlighting Soviet physical culture. As evidenced by this photograph, the Soviet government emphasized physical fitness within sport, work & liesure. The ideal Soviet Man and Woman would embody these qualities which in turn would reflect the unified Soviet Union and the Communist ideal. This idea of athleticism was installedand encouraged in Russian youth at a young age as shown by third year students Rimma Rodomtseva and Vladimir Afonin in this photograph.While highly flawed as a historical document, this photograph nonetheless demonstrates friendly competition, athleticism and national pride—all important themes in international sport.

To view the rest of the show please click here.

The MacLaren extends its best wishes to this year’s Pan Am and Parapan Am athletes.

-Sarah Robinson, Collections Assistant, Young Canada Works.