Yuliy Vedernikov, “The Lecture,” 1978

Signed in Cyrillic, dated, and numbered on the reverse

Oil on canvas

27 9/16 x 21 5/8 in. (70 x 55 cm)

Inv. no. ab_5093

Yuliy Anatol'evich Vedernikov (1943–2015) was born to an artistically talented family in Klyazma, near Moscow, and much of his work in the 1960s and 1970s depicted daily life in his hometown. “Lecture” is from a series picturing commonplace events there in the so-called Era of Stagnation as Brueghel-like scenes, alternately familiar and repellent. On the canvas we see some official state lecturer in suit and tie who attempts to deliver an edifying lecture to his few listeners even as his awkward posture in a beer barrel undercuts his message. Most of the figures pay him no heed, just as he seems uninterested in his listeners. The others prefer to drink, ignore their work, or fall dumbly into a water trough while groping the breast of a woman who for some unknown reason has disrobed.

Vedernikov was rendered deaf from a childhood illness and was unable to follow a typical course of artistic education. Instead, he worked in factory making decoration for New Year’s celebrations eventually taking Soviet non–conformist artist Vasily Sitnikov (1915–1987) as his mentor and becoming a member of his “Academy.” With no formal artistic education, Vedernikov was not able to become a member of the Union of Artists and so had no access to state commissions. Most of his work therefore was sold to foreigners – many of whom cultivated the non-conformist and dissident artists – including visiting writers, musicians, and artists as well as diplomats in various embassies.