Revisiting The Soviet Union’s First Great Photographer (Just Let’s Not Talk About Communism, Okay?)

The Russian curators of a touring exhibition of Alexander Rodchenko’s photographs documenting the early years of Soviet society insisted that no mention of Communism be made in the show’s materials. “Yet Communism, both as a utopian ideal and as a despotism, intermediated Rodchenko’s career. Can you discuss the art of Michelangelo without mentioning Christianity?”