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Abstract.
This essay examines the period of Modernism II (the 1930s-1950s), when the mainstream artistic vector shifted toward realism, democratism, and classicality, placing the figure of the ordinary contemporary at the center of attention. Despite the dominance of these qualities, a strong opposition persisted in art, fueled by a romantic worldview and radical “leftist” trends. Avant-garde movements, prominent at the beginning of the century, receded into the background during this period, continuing to evolve primarily toward the deformation of reality and abstraction. Meanwhile, surrealism emerged as the most influential avant-garde movement of the era, paradoxically combining naturalistic precision of detail with the alogism of the subconscious and the world of dreams. Simultaneously, neoclassicism developed, reviving antique ideals and the spirit of classical eras. The artistic quests of that time were largely shaped by severe historical trials: the “negative titanism” of totalitarian regimes and the cataclysms of war forced creators to defend fundamental human values. In search of firm ground, cultural figures frequently turned to the heroic past while maintaining a distinct vitality and a “spirit of youth” despite the immense pressures of the era. Ultimately, it was this creative optimism that allowed mid-century art to triumph over the forces of evil and destruction.
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