Whites 1930

Petre Otskheli created this watercolor, Whites, sometime before his death in 1937. The artwork appears to be a costume design for a stage production. What might this figure represent? The title, Whites, could be a reference to the white army that fought against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War. Otskheli was living in Soviet Georgia when he made this and perhaps the design was intended to make a political statement. The white fabric draped over the figure evokes wings, maybe an angel that has fallen to earth. Art historians rely on primary documents like letters, diaries and government records to interpret the meaning of art in its original social and political context. Without these records, it's hard to know what Otskheli intended, but the painting itself is a testament to the way political conflict can inspire artistic expression.