Hymn to October depicts the ceremonial sitting of the Moscow deputies of workers with representatives from Party and public organizations in Moscow on 6 November 1942. Among the representatives of the cultural intelligentsia are Igor Grabar (1871–1960), Alexander Gerasimov (1881–1963), Solomon Mikhoels (Vovsy) (1890–1948), Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko (1858–1943), Alla Tarasova (1898–1973), Alexei Tolstoy (1882/1883–1945), Kornei Chukovsky (1882–1969) and Dmitry Shostakovich (1906–1975). Painted during the Second World War, this canvas acquired a particular significance. The triumphant red tones helped to inspire confidence that the country would emerge from the war victorious.
