Masterpiece from the period of socialism goes up for auction in Sofia

The monumental painting "Legend of the New Day (The Construction of the National Palace of Culture)" by Bulgarian artist Petar Dochev will be among the highlights of an auction of significant works of Bulgarian art, which will be held in Sofia on May 19. Created in the 1980s, the work is dedicated to the construction of the National Palace of Culture – one of the symbols of the late socialist period in Bulgaria.

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The painting has not only artistic, but also historical value. On its back, an original inventory label has been preserved, certifying that the work belonged to the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Thus, the canvas becomes a rare testimony to the way in which art was used by state power during the socialist period.

With its monumental style and dynamic composition, the work captures the spirit of industrial optimism and large-scale public projects of the time. According to the auction organizers, it is an important example of Bulgarian monumental art of the 20th century and a document of the relationship between culture, politics and society in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova