BRATKOV, Serge. Glory Days / Heldenzeiten.

(Zurich): Verlag Scheidegger and Spiess, 2009.  Second printing.  192 pages.  A volume of photographs that are unsparing documents of daily life following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Poverty, prostitution, and homelessness are only a few of the issues Brtkov tackles through his striking photos. In his expressive portraits, he strips away the ideological clichés of the communist years—and subsequent bland slogans of hope for Eastern European capitalism—to reveal the complex reality.  Featured essays by art scholars draw out the social and artistic criticism embedded in Bratkov’s work, while not denying the powerful lyricism of his images.  A near fine copy in boards without dust jacket as issued.