Putin follows in Stalin’s footsteps

Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia is growing stronger - a strength that seemed almost impossible after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Putin presents himself as a strong man, the saviour of the Russian nation, a born and chosen leader. These characteristics were also attributed to Joseph Stalin, the leader of communist Soviet Russia. There are striking parallels in their demeanour and their use of the media available to them to spread their self-image, and it seems as if Vladimir Putin is copying Joseph Stalin’s approach... or is it just a coincidence of history? Liliya Junge compares the self-portrayal of both men in painting and photography, explicitly addressing similarities and differences in both execution and technical possibilities.