Lot 227: Ely Mikhailovich Bielutin (Belyutin)(1925- ),

Ely Mikhailovich Bielutin (Belyutin)(1925- ), Russian RENDEZVOUS; Oil on canvas; signed and dated 65 bottom center, signed and titled in cyrillics and dated 1965 verso. Unframed. 78.7" x 39.4" - 200 x 100 cm.

Note: Eli Bielutin founded and directed the Bielutin (Belyutin) Studio which became a centre of the nonconformist art movement beginning in 1949. Known as the School of New Reality (Novaya Realnost), it was created in defiant opposition to the State-regulated art of the past thirty years. The era of Socialist Realism was established by Stalin in 1932 to serve the state by illustrating the ideals of the communist party and conveying its goals to the masses. Bielutin gathered a large and loyal group of followers who shared his non-conformist vision. The studio artists that gathered to paint under Bielutin, including Arkady Remennik whose works are included in this sale (lots 228 and 229). Together the members of the group produced thousands of paintings that were individualized, bold and without the pessimism that characterizes the work of the Soviet conceptual artists of their time. A famous exhibition of the School of New Reality held at Manezh in 1962 was called a "mockery" and a "shameful exhibit" resulting in Khrushchev screaming, "I forbid! I forbid everything! as he closed the exhibition down.