Vladimir Shcherban (b. 1919) was a decorated veteran of World War II and a prominent painter of the Soviet school whose art was deeply informed by his life experiences. After serving in the war, where he was awarded the prestigious Red Star medal, he enrolled in the Moscow City Art School for Disabled WWII Veterans, studying under professors I. Zakharov and K. Morozov and graduating in 1950. In 1970, he was invited to join the Soviet Artists' Guild and was also a Member of the Artists' Division of the Communist Party bureau, cementing his status as an officially recognized artist.
Shcherban was a versatile master of Socialist Realism, devoting works to historical-revolutionary themes and his experiences in the war, as well as genre scenes, portraits, and landscapes. His paintings in our collection showcase his profound connection to the Russian landscape. In "The Melting" and "Spring Breathes," he masterfully captures the hopeful, transitional mood of the changing seasons with a powerful, realist technique. In another work, "Autumn," he demonstrates his skill as a colorist, rendering the rich and melancholic beauty of the season.
The legacy of Vladimir Shcherban is that of a quintessential Soviet artist and patriot. He received numerous awards from the Soviet Artists' Guild and other state organizations, and his subjects were drawn from his extensive painting excursions across the USSR, from the Caucasus Mountains to the Crimea and Ukraine. For the collector, a painting by Shcherban is a powerful and authentic document of its time. It is a work created by a decorated war hero, whose art provides a direct and historically significant window into the landscapes and ideals of the Soviet era.
1978, First solo exhibition
