These 1930’s nudes by Russian photographer Alexander Grinberg very nearly didn’t survive. As a celebrated photographer teaching at the Moscow Society of Photographers he was imprisoned in a labour camp for five years, during the Stalinist regime, for producing work described as “dangerous to society”. Fortunately for us his older brother hid the negatives and his beautiful images live on.

Grinberg witnessed the Russian Revolution, the Civil War, two World Wars and the Stalinist repression. He died at the ripe old age of 94. Inspiration for us all!