“The Feat” (1960s) by Mikhail Dmitrievich Alatarcev captures civilian resistance during World War II with emotional intensity. War scenes—especially those from the Great Patriotic War—were central to Soviet art, and this painting highlights the heroism of ordinary people while reflecting the trauma that shaped postwar Soviet identity.
The composition is driven by sharp diagonals and twisted bodies, creating a sense of chaos and motion. At the center, a Nazi soldier is overpowered by civilians, his position at the bottom of the frame signals defeat.
Alatarcev’s bold, urgent brushwork adds emotional weight and breaks from the controlled aesthetic of Socialist Realism. His style leans toward expressionism, focusing less on idealised heroics and more on the personal, human experience of war.
Colour plays a crucial role. The warm reds and yellows of the civilians’ clothing contrast sharply with the cooler background, heightening the tension. The faces, roughly defined and abstracted, avoid individual portraiture in favor of universal emotion: fear, anger, desperation. The result is a work that feels both rooted in Ukrainian experience and broadly relatable.
Born in 1947 in Ukraine, Alatarcev is best known for his landscape paintings and his deep connection to nature, often explored through plein air work. He began his training in Yenakiieve under I. Grinenko and later studied at the Kharkiv State Art School and the Kharkiv Art and Industrial Institute. A member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine since 1999, his work is held in private collections across Ukraine and internationally.
The Feat, 1970s
MEDIUM
Oil on canvas
DIMENSIONS
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120 H x 68 W