The execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg at sundown on 19 June 1953 was one of the darkest moments in recent US history. The married couple were the only American civilians to be put to death for espionage-related activity during the Cold War, after they were convicted of passing top secret information to the Soviets. Their deaths left their two young sons orphaned. It was … Continue reading Art in Defence of the Rosenbergs
When visiting the (American) nation’s capital, there’s a one stop shop to discover everything you never knew you wanted to know about espionage. Since 2002 the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC has been home to the largest collection of spycraft ever placed on public display. Along winding corridors the museum takes a look at the long history of spying – Sun Tzu to Casanova, … Continue reading Recommended: International Spy Museum
Irregular working hours, frequent trips out of town, a fondness for radical politics… The more unconventional aspects of life as an artist were the reasons why it proved to be such an effective cover for one KGB spy. A British national of Russian descent, Vilyam Genrikhovich Fisher (also known as Rudolf Ivanovich Abel) was recruited into the KGB during World War II and sent to … Continue reading The KGB Spy Who Became a New York Artist
This month I have decided to develop the monthly Recommended Read strand of ESPIONART into a broader, more personal section renamed Recommended. Instead of focusing on (only) Cold War art-related books, each month I will suggest something that I believe will be of interest to the Cold War art enthusiast. ________ Top of my list of recommendations is the wonderful Victoria Dougherty and her blog … Continue reading Recommended: Cold
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