Review of Piotr Piotrowski's 'In the Shadow of Yalta' Examines Eastern European Art History

In his 2009 publication, 'In the Shadow of Yalta: Art and the Avant-Garde in Eastern Europe 1945-1989', released by Reaktion Books Ltd., Piotr Piotrowski examines the visual arts in areas under Soviet influence following the 1945 Yalta Agreement. Éva Forgács outlines its organization into three sections: 'Surrealist interregnum' (1945-1948), 'Modernism and Totalitarianism' (up to 1968), and 'The Neo-Avant-Garde and "Real Socialism"' (1970s). While it discusses movements such as Art Informel and geometric abstraction, it disproportionately emphasizes Polish, Hungarian, and East German art, overlooking contributions from Yugoslavian, Romanian, and Bulgarian artists. Forgács also critiques Piotrowski's assertions regarding 'Hungarian Pop Art' and points out significant omissions. Despite its shortcomings, the book is acknowledged as a crucial work in the study of Eastern European art history.