The works of the Leningrad art industry enterprises of the second half of the twentieth century and their role in the organization of the living environment (on the example of the products of the Leningrad Enamel plant)

Abstract

During the last decade scientific interest of the Soviet period consumer goods has been increasing in the context of global political processes, on the one hand, and from the point of view of the organization of the living environment, on the other. The post-war and the late Soviet period consumer goods are interesting for analysis, since they are connected with the state policy of the everyday life of a Soviet citizen. Since the late 1940s, the formation of the consumer goods has been taking place on three levels of everyday culture: the space of the body, the space of the house, the space of the city. The article examines the problem of transition from an environment filled with private objects (1950s) to a single concept of the organization of the environment – design (1960s), using the example of the products of Leningrad art industry enterprises and archival materials (enterprise reports). The study of the material filling of the everyday space of the Soviet are citizen within the framework of the culturological approach assumed the use of a structural and functional method. As part of archival research, a source–based assessment of materials was carried out – annual reports of enterprises. When analyzing the works – products of the art industry enterprises, a set of art criticism methods was used. The materials of the Leningrad Enamel artel/plant are presented for the first time, some samples of the company's products are selected and analyzed in the context of changing stylistic coordinates and the formation of technical aesthetics. Based on the analysis of the degree of study of the porcelain and textile industry of Leningrad in the post-war and late Soviet periods, the conclusion is made about the importance of studying the problem of transition from a stylistic marker of the subject component of the living environment to a design one. This transition is demonstrated by the example of the history and some works from the assortment of the Leningrad Enamel company. Archival materials made it possible to expand the understanding of the history of the enterprise, the circumstances of the transfer of the artel to state administration and the making of products in accordance with the requirements of decorative minimalism. The analysis of artistically designed household goods (cigarette cases, compact boxes) confirms the theses not only about the formal change of artistic language, but also about the formation of ideas about a new living environment.