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railroad. These items, designed by some of Russia’s finest artists, are on display at the museum. Indeed, in the 1920s, legendary avant-garde artists Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Lyubov Popova, Vasily Kandinsky and Malevich developed sketches for propaganda art products. “This kind of propaganda was particularly important during the first years of the Revolution,” says Irina Vazhinska-
ya, head of the museum’s art department. “Propagandists had to transform the mentality of the people and make them accept new political ideas and a new lifestyle. The first Soviet propaganda art was created by some of the most talented and acclaimed artists in the country.” › State Museum of the Political History of Russia 2-4 Ulitsa Kuibysheva • www.polithistory.ru
UP CLOSE The State Museum of the Political History of Russia boasts a sizeable collection of propaganda artworks (above), often by well-known artists. Opposite page, the Museum of the Petrodvorets watch factory has a vast archive of designs and drawings; the Doll Museum regularly hosts theme exhibitions that are set up by big-name designers.
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