Exhibition "At the time of captivity" in the Pushkin Museum im. Pushkin is dedicated to the memory of the artist

In Moscow, in the hall of the main building of the Pushkin Museum. Pushkin, on December 5, the exhibition "At Time in Captivity" opens, dedicated to the memory of the talented artist Erich Borchert. The artist’s place of birth and study was Germany, where he received his art education at the Bauhaus educational institution located in the city of Dessau.

Then the Soviet government was officially invited to work in Russia, where he worked in the art group involved in interior decoration projects for fifteen years. Ever since the times of Peter the Great, such creative ties between Russia and Germany were actively maintained, but for many who came to Russia in the pre-war years, such cooperation ended tragically.

From the first days of the war, Erich Borchert was going to the front as a volunteer, but instead was sent to the construction battalion, located in the city of Kamensk-Uralsky. He worked at construction sites, drew a lot, but in 1942 he was arrested on charges of preparing sabotage and sentenced to 20 years. The artist was sentenced to serve his sentence in Karaganda, where he died two years later. Erich Borchert was 37 years old at the time of his death.

In connection with the arrest, the artist’s creative heritage was forgotten for many years. Only after posthumous rehabilitation in 1962, which was the result of considerable efforts by members of his family, did Erich Borchert’s artwork begin to live a new life. The artist’s wife and daughter managed to save a large number of his graphic works, some of which are on display.

In Russia, Borchert’s works are neither in museums nor among private collectors, only the Pushkin Museum’s fund kept two drawings and two watercolors by the author. At the end of the exhibition, the artist’s family will be presented with three more works. You can get acquainted with the work of Erich Borchert until January 27th.

Ludmila Trautmane