Lenin 2009

Alexander Roitburd’s 2009 painting “Lenin” depicts a nude male figure, possibly a self-portrait, against a dark background. The figure’s pose and the impasto brushstrokes suggest a strong connection to the history of portraiture and the tradition of representing the human form, while the subject matter and the contemporary context of the painting evoke a sense of humor and irony. Roitburd, a Ukrainian artist known for his satirical and politically charged art, challenges traditional notions of representation and iconography in this provocative work.