In 1958, Russian photographer Vsevolod Tarasevich created Children’s World. The images feature children at play against a constant backdrop. The children smile, seemingly happy enough with their rudimentary toys and unfussy clothing, which their comrades could buy at the shop. The tableau affects a look of innocent, pre-adolescent carefree abandon. But is something odd in the whole, a creeping otherness implied in the light spots and shadows? What might be a simple collection of pancake fashion shots for kids’ clothes becomes something fascinating.
After doing his bit in World War 2, Tarasevich worked for Sovyetsky Soyuz, Ogonyok and Rabotnitsa magazines, and Soviet Photo. He said: “A photograph should be interesting to take a long look at.” Tarasevich couldn’t even take a catalogue picture without making it interesting.
Don’t look for the story, just try to imagine one between the pictures.
Via Russia Photo
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