The Defense of Sevastopol Painting by Alexander Dainka, 1942 On October 30, 1941, the second heroic defense of Sevastopol began, which lasted 250 days - until July 4, 1942. It is surprising that during the war, and even in its most tragic and disturbing months, not only talented propaganda works were created, but also real artistic masterpieces. It was the most brutal winter ever - you won't find another like it in history. In the Crimea the snow turned black from explosions. Alexander Dainka visited the peaceful Crimea many times, befriended sailors, went fishing, fell in love with Sevastopol. He saw the war with his own eyes on another front, but the achievement of the people of Sevastopol impressed him with special power. The artist recalls: I was completely captivated by the heroism of the defenders of Sevastopol. It was a hard war, I returned from the front near Jochnov. It was a brutal winter, the beginning of an offensive with varying local success, heavy fighting, with the soldiers leaving red marks from wounds in the snow and the snow blackened from explosions. But still I decided to paint for the exhibition "Defense of Sevastopol", because I loved this city because of its cheerful people, the sea, the boats, the planes. And so I imagined with my own eyes how everything was blown up, how women stopped laughing, even children felt what a blockage was. I saw a picture of Sevastopol from an airplane in the German press. A terrible picture, unlike what I saw myself a few years ago. In a word, my painting and I merged in the creation. I would like to see my other paintings like this. If there is no posture, affection, then there is dynamics, expressiveness of a super intense fight. These are, as practical artists say, "triumphant moments" for painting. Daily work does not provide such "win-win" situations. But it only seems so. The simplicity and modesty, I would say, the shyness of simple paintings of the world is different. ".

The Defense of Sevastopol Painting by Alexander Dainka, 1942 On October 30, 1941, the second heroic defense of Sevastopol began, which lasted 250 days - until July 4, 1942. It is surprising that during the war, and even in its most tragic and disturbing months, not only talented propaganda works were created, but also real artistic masterpieces. It was the most brutal winter ever - you won't find another like it in history. In the Crimea the snow turned black from explosions. Alexander Dainka visited the peaceful Crimea many times, befriended sailors, went fishing, fell in love with Sevastopol. He saw the war with his own eyes on another front, but the achievement of the people of Sevastopol impressed him with special power. The artist recalls: I was completely captivated by the heroism of the defenders of Sevastopol. It was a hard war, I returned from the front near Jochnov. It was a brutal winter, the beginning of an offensive with varying local success, heavy fighting, with the soldiers leaving red marks from wounds in the snow and the snow blackened from explosions. But still I decided to paint for the exhibition "Defense of Sevastopol", because I loved this city because of its cheerful people, the sea, the boats, the planes. And so I imagined with my own eyes how everything was blown up, how women stopped laughing, even children felt what a blockage was. I saw a picture of Sevastopol from an airplane in the German press. A terrible picture, unlike what I saw myself a few years ago. In a word, my painting and I merged in the creation. I would like to see my other paintings like this. If there is no posture, affection, then there is dynamics, expressiveness of a super intense fight. These are, as practical artists say, "triumphant moments" for painting. Daily work does not provide such "win-win" situations. But it only seems so. The simplicity and modesty, I would say, the shyness of simple paintings of the world is different. ".