Biełarusian Fine Art: Time and Time Again

It’s hard to imagine feeling a sense of loss for artwork until you become immersed in the stories of the Biełarusian fine artists Dr. Zina Gimpelevich has spotlighted in her newest book. She brought to life artists whose work was curtailed under the tyranny of the Russian Empire, the tragedy of the Holocaust, and persistent poverty. Yet these artists’ collective resilience and the work they produced—paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and more—have helped bring beauty and joy to the world, even when depicting the suffering felt by so many.

In Biełarusian Fine Art: Time and Time Again, Dr. Gimpelevich celebrates the work of over 150 Biełarusian fine artists (including many from the School of Paris). She estimates more than 3,000 Biełarusian artists are creating today in Biełaruś, her birth country. Many remained in their home country. Many became émigrés who traveled beyond borders and never returned home. Native sons, such as Mark Šahał (Marc Chagall) and Markus Yakaŭlevič Rotkovič (Mark Rothko) have left their influence and work the world over and are often “claimed” by other countries. Other fine artists created in obscurity or self-imposed exile, hiding their work to avoid the grasp of oppressive regimes. Dr. Gimpelevich has ensured their names and work will not be forgotten and will receive the recognition they richly deserve.

The harsh truths Dr. Gimpelevich brings to light are tempered with glimmers of hope from recent-generation Biełarusian fine artists. Like their predecessors and mentors, their work shows an unyielding reverence for their country’s landscapes, culture, history, and people. Although this book has its lens focused on Biełarusian fine art, Dr. Gimpelevich adeptly provides readers with a deeper understanding of how politics and power struggles have affected this little-known country’s citizens, many of which still endure today.