Accession Number2013/2.325
TitleArtillery Commander K.M. Karabanov Protecting the Harvest
Artist(s)Dmitri BaltermantsArtist NationalityRussian (culture or style)Object Creation Date1941; printed 2003Medium & Supportgelatin silver print on paperDimensions 192 in x 20 in (487.68 cm x 50.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of Thomas Wilson '79 and Jill Garling '80Subject matterThis photograph provides a close-up view of Artillery Commander K.M. Karabanov operating the rotary crank of an antiaircraft gun. This young man looks toward the upper-left corner of the image, the line of his gaze matched by the steep diagonal of the gun’s barrel. The photograph monumentalizes this medium-ranking officer who, significantly, wears an USSR medal for courage. He performs his duty stoically, supported by his comrades in arms. Indeed, he is a dashing picture of unflappable patriotism. This image forms part of Baltermants’ larger project—as an official photographer to the Kremlin—which, spread across numerous portfolios, aimed to document scenes from the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany during World War II (1939-1945), known in the USSR as the Great Patriotic War.
Physical DescriptionClose-up view of a young soldier with a medal pinned on his breast operating a rotary crank attached to a large gun; two additional soldiers stand behind him.
Primary Object ClassificationPhotographCollection AreaPhotographyRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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Keywords
antiaircraft guns
armies
battles
fighting
journalistic photography
medals
war photography
wars