Partizan's mother 2008

Alexander Roitburd painted Partizan's Mother, but we don't know exactly when. Roitburd grew up in Soviet-era Ukraine, where personal expression often clashed with state ideology. The painting presents a figure who seems burdened by surreal and unsettling elements: a vintage radio where her head should be, and what seems to be a beetle attached to her back. One can imagine the radio as the source of propaganda, its golden grill a seductive facade. The beetle could be a metaphor for the insidious, creeping nature of political oppression, or perhaps it represents a personal burden. The woman’s direct gaze and hand gestures create a sense of unease, as if she is trying to both process and resist the information overload she receives. There is a tension between the personal and the political, the individual and the state, reflecting the complexities of life under authoritarian regimes. Roitburd's painting invites us to reflect on the emotional toll of living in a world saturated with information and political pressure. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of critical thinking and individual resilience in the face of overwhelming forces.