Sovietmečio kryždirbystės tyrimo šaltiniai : fotografija

ENThe article analyzes photographs presenting the cross-crafting monuments in Soviet times. Photographs are viewed as records reproducing the cross-crafting phenomenon in the Soviet period, therefore the artistic expression of the photos is not discussed. The aims of the research – to analyze the information of the crosscrafting tradition in the Soviet era provided by photographs and to show the ways this information can be read. Therefore, the shooting history of the sacred monuments is shortly discussed, the direct and indirect information provided by the images is examined and interpreted, additional information delivered by photographic metrics is also revealed. Descriptive, comparative and interpretive analysis is used in the study. The examined photographs have a documentary character. Often a few shots have been devoted to one monument. This determines an informative point of view: the whole monument, its shape and details (sculpture, inscriptions, and symbols) is well seen, as well as the authentic environment that provides additional information for the researcher.The article discusses the direct information captured by the photos on the cross-crafting tradition in the Soviet era: the continuous construction of the memorial monuments and other ways of tradition maintenance such as the repair and restoration of the old monuments, moving them to a safer location. Also an artistic expression of the monuments and their condition is well seen in the photographs. It is shown how to decipher the hidden message of the photos using the interpretation of the image, metrics and other sources. There is information about the authors, clients, building intentions, rituals and customs. Photos have to be viewed critically: the information taken from them compared with other sources and known facts. Only then the photographs will serve as a reliable source for research. [From the publication]