Interesting painting(s)

I’m fascinated by this painting found today in a second-hand shop. To me, it looks like a wrecked locomotive framed by a sword on one side and bayonet on the other. In the background is a tower, that may be a German flak tower. Berlin at the end of the war?



The signature seems to be the initials “O.M.”.



On the back of the picture is a second picture, which appears to be a scene in a grand house or palace. In the bottom right corner is a Soviet stamp and some handwriting that I can’t quite decipher.





There’s also a page with, I believe, Lithuanian writing taped to the glass over the picture:



Could these pictures be set designs for a play or movie? Would love to know what you think!

 

Well, according to the internet, Gunars Placens was in the play Sveiks in 1961 which dates the program on the back. That fits with the abbreviation CCCP which was in use from 1922 until 1991. (Forgive my lack of Latvian punctuation.)

Debora

 

Could be a set decoration. Tower may be water tower in Riga. Or that in the old town square.

Debora

 

Yes, looks like the same tower!

 

Amazing, thank you! I didn’t find this.

 

I think I found the artist with “O.M.” initials! The set decorator for this Sveiks play:

 

Clever you! Sveiks was produced at the Dailes Teatre. Why don't you contact them for help? Can't be too many artifacts left from that theatrical era in Communist Latvia.

https://www-dailesteatris-lv.transl...tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc&_x_tr_sch=http

Debora

 

Here's Oskar! Oskar! (With apologizes to Gunter Grass.)

https://lr1.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/latvijas-dzimtu-saknes/muiznieku-dzimtas-celi-latvijas-vesture.a106731/

Debora

 

Thanks, Debora, I may just do that. The language barrier might make things a little tricky, though!

 

Wow, great research!

 

I think you'll find English-speakers. Can't do much in the world without it these days.

Debora

 

The production is based on this book ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Soldier_Švejk
The character of Josef Švejk is a development of this theme.

 

Thank you!

 

While many places in the area had similar water towers, the following is an interesting coincidence.
A person with the same name works in Riga!

 

Hmm, must be related!

 

I just translated this from the link that Debora provided ...
"This family also has a special connection with some Latvian cities and towns, and there will be a story about Mazsalac, Daugavpils and Riga. On the other hand, Lāčplēša street in Riga was and still is important for the Muižnieku family."

 

Absolutely Amazing...every bit of it!

 

That's why we all enjoy this so much!

 

This place is so deep, I'm always over my head...I'm growing gills!!

 

The play is a well-known Czech comedy about a naive Bohemian who joins the Austro-Hungarian army during WW I.
The tower could be a watch tower. It is different from the Latvian water tower, and in the play, Švejk doesn't go to Latvia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Soldier_Švejk