Socialist realism comes to light at WTO after 30 year cover-up

[Omaha Steve]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/International_Business/Socialist_realism_comes_to_light_at_WTO_after_30_year_cover-up/articleshow/2905895.cms

GENEVA: It started when a former employee of the International Labour Organisation spoke fondly of photographs taken of her with her husband in front of huge murals in the ILO's former building.

It ended with the discovery by the current occupant of the building, the World Trade Organisation, of several art nouveau and socialist-realism style art pieces which had been hidden from view for more than 30 years by plaster and wood boards.

"You can imagine our emotions when we removed the plaster and the boards which were also nailed to the tiles," said Victor do Prado, the deputy head of cabinet in the office of the WTO director general.

After some knocking and hacking, the WTO uncovered several paintings and murals dating back to the early half of the 20th century.

Most depicted the labour movement theme, as they were meant to grace the wall of the ILO which had occupied the building between 1926-1975.

One such mural, "The Dignity of Work" by French painter Maurice Denis, for instance, shows Jesus preaching to a group of trade unionists.

snip: Another gigantic mural by American Dean Cornwell was found stored in a gardeners' villa next to the building.

"The experts could not believe their eyes: a painting like this one is worth millions," said do Prado.

It could grace the walls of a new building which the WTO is planning to site just next door in 2013.

Ironically, the painting was donated by the American trade union movement, the AFL-CIO, which today happens to be a major opponent of the WTO.


FULL story at link.

[jwirr]

1. I suppose we do not have to ask who hid these pictures? nt