Category Archives: Painting and Sculpture

Alliance Marxist-Leninist: The Problem of Pablo Picasso

The Problem of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) CONTENTS Introduction Pablo Picasso — Early Years Developing Cubism Guernica — The Bombing Guernica — The Painting Impact of Picasso and Guernica on Russian Discussions Upon Socialist Realist Art Post Second World War – ‘Becoming a communist, Picasso hoped to come out of exile’. Conclusion Bibliography Introduction Picasso posesContinue reading “Alliance Marxist-Leninist: The Problem of Pablo Picasso”

“Theses on Art” from the League of Socialist Artists

Introduction from Alliance for web presentation (Alliance 2000). The “Theses on Art,” were put forward in 1972, by the “League of Socialist Artists”; and the “Marxist-Leninist Organisation of Britain (MLOB).” The latter was the progenitor of the Communist League (CL). This article was first re-printed by Alliance in hard copy with poems of Nazim Hikmet, asContinue reading ““Theses on Art” from the League of Socialist Artists”

Vietnamese Revolutionary Art

This article was published by Alliance (Marxist-Leninist) as part of the publication Alliance, issue #53, “Aesthetics and Revolution – Essays and Talks.” Introduction Western Artists and revolutionaries, are familiar with the socialist realist traditions of the USSR, Albania and of China. They also have a deep affection and respect for revolutionary painting from the SpanishContinue reading “Vietnamese Revolutionary Art”

Was Stalin’s View on Art Different from that of Marx and Engels?

This article was published by Alliance (Marxist-Leninist) as part of the publication Alliance, issue #53, “Aesthetics and Revolution – Essays and Talks.” A talk given to commemorate Bill Bland at Conway Hall, London, September 2001 Preamble This is not the occasion to dwell on Bill’s enormous contributions to the Marxist-Leninist movement in both theory andContinue reading “Was Stalin’s View on Art Different from that of Marx and Engels?”

Bill Bland: Stalin & the Arts – On Marxist-Leninist Aesthetics

This article was published by Alliance (Marxist-Leninist) as part of the publication Alliance, issue #53, “Aesthetics and Revolution – Essays and Talks.” Preface This talk was given by Bill Bland to the ‘Stalin Society’ in 1993. He later expanded this talk in some detail, into the manuscript here. It gives a history of Socialist RealismContinue reading “Bill Bland: Stalin & the Arts – On Marxist-Leninist Aesthetics”

Diego Rivera’s Dirty Little Secret

Diego Rivera’s dirty little secret: His murals are magnificent celebrations of socialism; his friendship with Trotsky and his marriage to Frida Kahlo are leftist legend, but new evidence shows that he betrayed his comrades to his enemies. Phil Davison reports by Phil Davison Thursday 25 November 1993 In 1932, Diego Rivera was commissioned to paintContinue reading “Diego Rivera’s Dirty Little Secret”