1989 Soviet USSR Lady Portrait Sustermans Flemish Art Postcard Odessa Ukraine UN

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RARE 1989 SOVIET ERA JUSTUS SUSTERMANS 'PORTRAIT OF A LADY WEARING PEARLS' MUSEUM ART POSTCARD - HISTORICAL USSR EPHEMERA FROM UKRAINE - ODESSA MUSEUM - UNUSED CONDITION

DESCRIPTION

This elegant unused postcard features a stunning reproduction of 'Portrait of a Lady Wearing Pearls' by Flemish Baroque master Justus Sustermans (1597-1681). Published in the final years of the Soviet Union this 1989 art card comes from the Museum of Western and Oriental Art in Odessa Ukraine then still part of the USSR.

The portrait depicts a refined noblewoman with an aristocratic bearing adorned in a sumptuous dark brocade dress with intricate patterning and luxurious cream/gold lace details. Multiple strands of pearls cascade across her bodice complemented by a pearl necklace and jeweled hair ornaments that signify her elevated social status.

This postcard was printed in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) by the prestigious Aurora Art Publishers during a pivotal historical moment – just two years before the collapse of the Soviet Union. The bilingual English/Russian text and original Soviet-era pricing of 5 kopeks provide a tangible connection to this vanishing period of history.

The artwork itself exemplifies the refined portraiture of the 17th century European aristocracy with Sustermans' masterful technique evident in the detailed rendering of textiles jewelry and the subject's serene expression. The composition balances formal elegance with intimate psychological presence.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This postcard represents a fascinating intersection of art history and political transition. Published in 1989 it captures the final moments of the Soviet era just before the massive geopolitical shifts that would transform Eastern Europe in the early 1990s.

Justus Sustermans though less widely known than contemporaries like Rubens or Van Dyck was a significant Flemish painter who served as court portraitist to the Medici family in Florence. His work represents the cultural exchange between Northern and Southern European artistic traditions during the Baroque period.

The Museum of Western and Oriental Art in Odessa Ukraine (now known as the Odessa Museum of Western and Eastern Art) houses an impressive collection of European paintings. This particular postcard documents both the museum's holdings during the Soviet period and the USSR's commitment to making Western art accessible through affordable reproductions.

Aurora Art Publishers of Leningrad was one of the premier Soviet publishing houses dedicated to high-quality art reproductions. The city itself would be renamed St. Petersburg just two years after this postcard was printed making this item a time capsule from the last days of Soviet Leningrad.

Each passing year these tangible connections to the final days of the Soviet Union become increasingly scarce and historically significant. This postcard bridges multiple worlds – 17th century Flanders late-Soviet Ukraine and the cosmopolitan art tradition that transcended Cold War boundaries.

CONDITION

This postcard remains in very good unused condition despite being over 30 years old. The color reproduction retains excellent vibrancy with the rich dark tones of the subject's dress contrasting beautifully with the luminous pearls and fair complexion.

The card shows some minor signs of age including light overall toning/yellowing of the white border area and a noticeable water stain/discoloration in the lower right corner of the front border. There is minor edge wear particularly along the right edge of the back and a few small marks or spots consistent with age and storage.

The image itself remains clear and attractive with no significant blemishes affecting the portrait. All text on the reverse remains perfectly legible with both the English and Cyrillic (Russian) information crisp and well-preserved.

There are no creases tears or major damage to the card. The postcard has never been written on or postally used maintaining its original clean appearance and collector appeal.

AGE/ERA

This postcard is precisely dated to 1989 based on the publisher information printed on the reverse. This places it in the final years of the Soviet Union during the Gorbachev era of glasnost and perestroika when the USSR was beginning to open up culturally and politically.

The card bears several hallmarks of late Soviet printing: bilingual text in both Russian and English the distinctive divided back format with a vertical line and the original Soviet price of '5 коп.' (5 kopeks) in the upper right corner. The instruction at the bottom in Cyrillic to 'ОТПРАВЛЯТЬ ПО ПОЧТЕ ТОЛЬКО В КОНВЕРТЕ' ('Mail only in an envelope') is typical of Soviet-era fine art postcards.

The publisher Aurora Art Publishers (Издательство «Аврора») was based in Leningrad – a city name that itself dates the card as Leningrad reverted to its historical name of St. Petersburg in 1991 following the Soviet collapse. This transitional timing adds significant historical interest to what might otherwise be simply an art reproduction.

The printing quality and paper stock are characteristic of better Soviet publications of this period when technical limitations still resulted in a distinctive aesthetic different from Western postcards of the same era. These characteristics make Soviet-era ephemera immediately recognizable to collectors and increasingly sought after as Cold War artifacts.

RARITY

While Soviet-era postcards were produced in substantial numbers those featuring Western European art from regional Soviet museums (like Odessa) are considerably less common than postcards of Russian artworks or from major institutions like the Hermitage. This specific card combines several elements that make it increasingly difficult to find.

The timing – 1989 – represents the final moments of the Soviet Union before its dissolution in 1991. Many ephemeral items from this transitional period were discarded during the dramatic political and economic changes that followed making surviving examples increasingly scarce.

The specific artwork – a portrait by Justus Sustermans – is relatively uncommon in postcard form compared to more famous artists. The Museum of Western and Oriental Art in Odessa is also a more specialized source than major Soviet institutions whose postcards were produced in larger quantities.

With each passing year these tangible artifacts from the final chapter of the Soviet era disappear into permanent collections or are lost to time. Particularly as interest in Soviet ephemera continues to grow among historians cultural scholars and collectors well-preserved examples like this become increasingly difficult to source.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE

There is something uniquely evocative about holding an authentic piece of the vanished Soviet world. This postcard represents not just a beautiful artwork but a moment frozen in time – the final years of a superpower that would soon dramatically transform.

For collectors of Soviet ephemera art postcards or historical items related to Ukraine this piece offers a multifaceted connection to the past. Consider that this postcard was printed when Odessa was still a Soviet city when Leningrad had not yet returned to being St. Petersburg and when the USSR still stood as one of the world's two superpowers.

In our increasingly digital world these authentic physical connections to pivotal historical moments become ever more meaningful and evocative. The distinctive paper stock printing techniques and Soviet aesthetic cannot be replicated by modern reproductions – this is a genuine artifact that has survived the tumultuous post-Soviet decades.

Whether building a collection focused on Soviet history European art Ukrainian cultural heritage or simply the aesthetic appeal of vintage postcards this example offers remarkable historical depth beneath its seemingly simple appearance. It's not just a postcard – it's a time capsule from the final moments of the Soviet experiment.

SHIPPING NOTE

Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost! I'm happy to combine shipping on any number of postcards to save you money.

This vintage postcard will be carefully packaged in an archival sleeve between rigid cardboard to ensure it arrives safely and in the same condition shown in the photos. I understand the importance of protecting these historical items and take great care in packaging.

DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A PIECE OF SOVIET AND UKRAINIAN HISTORY!

As we approach the 35th anniversary of this postcard's production and the dissolution of the Soviet Union fewer examples of late-Soviet Ukrainian ephemera remain available to collectors. This fascinating time capsule from Odessa during the final years of the USSR offers a window into multiple layers of European cultural history. Secure this unique piece of Soviet art publishing before it disappears into someone else's permanent collection!"

 _gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))

Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.