Competition Entry for Palace of the Soviets, Moscow, 1931: Perspective c. 1931

Curator: This is Hanns Dustmann's competition entry for the Palace of the Soviets in Moscow, dating back to 1931. Editor: It has a stark, monumental feel, doesn’t it? Almost intimidating in its scale despite being only 12.6 by 17.5 cm. The ink rendering emphasizes sharp angles. Curator: Absolutely. Dustmann's proposal reflects the era’s ambition, but also the anxieties of utopian projects and their impact on the individual. The shadow the building casts feels heavy. Editor: I see the material reality too. Look at how the ink defines the building's skin—glass and concrete, the building blocks of modernity, meant for the masses. Curator: And the figures at the base, almost dwarfed, emphasize the building's dominance, but also, to me, the potential for collective action in Soviet society. Editor: Still, I wonder about the labor required for such a colossal undertaking. Did the promise align with the actual human cost? Curator: That tension is precisely what makes this drawing so compelling – a reflection of both hope and potential oppression. Editor: Indeed. It leaves you questioning the physical and social materials used to build dreams.