From Burqas To Bureaucrats: The Soviet Reshaping Of Uzbekistan 100 Years Ago
From 1925, when the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic was declared a part of the Soviet Union, one photographer was able to capture the “radical social surgery” enacted by the Bolsheviks that forever changed the Central Asian state.
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A poster of Soviet leader Josef Stalin atop one of the first tractors photographed at work in the fields of Uzbekistan.
In early 1925, the region of today’s Uzbekistan was declared a republic of the Soviet Union. The Soviet takeover marked a period of ruthless transformation, which included executions of Uzbek political prisoners as well as literacy programs and industrialization.
In early 1925, the region of today’s Uzbekistan was declared a republic of the Soviet Union. The Soviet takeover marked a period of ruthless transformation, which included executions of Uzbek political prisoners as well as literacy programs and industrialization.
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A sportsman runs past women in burqas during the first years of Soviet Uzbekistan.
Early images of Soviet Uzbekistan are rare, but photographer Max Penson was there, on the farms and in the bazaars during the Soviet republic’s first days.
Early images of Soviet Uzbekistan are rare, but photographer Max Penson was there, on the farms and in the bazaars during the Soviet republic’s first days.
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Max Penson
Penson was born into a Jewish family in western Russia in 1893. He relocated to today’s Uzbekistan in 1914 where he taught himself photography. From 1926, he worked as a photojournalist.
Penson was born into a Jewish family in western Russia in 1893. He relocated to today’s Uzbekistan in 1914 where he taught himself photography. From 1926, he worked as a photojournalist.
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A workers' rally outside a textile mill in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.
While restricted to capturing what the Soviet censors would approve, Penson was able to document the transformation of Uzbek life, described as “radical social surgery” that began a century ago.
While restricted to capturing what the Soviet censors would approve, Penson was able to document the transformation of Uzbek life, described as “radical social surgery” that began a century ago.
