Krista Petrauska (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.53631/MIS/2025.18.5
During the Soviet era (1945–1990), Latvia, like other occupied states, experienced anti-religious reforms and the suppression of local churches and Christian communities. This repression also hindered the development of church buildings and interiors. This study explores the hypothesis that, despite these challenges, sacred art from the Soviet period represents a unique and meaningful part of the Christian artistic tradition. It identifies and analyzes the main altarpiece artists, examines their creative activities in Latvia, and contextualizes the number of altarpiece paintings in comparison with the situation in Lithuania.
Keywords: altarpieces, Soviet Latvia, Christian art, anti-religious policy, painting