Final answer:
The sculpture 'The Worker and the Kolkhoz Woman' by Vera Mukhina is a quintessential example of Russian social realism, showcasing the ideals and artistic direction of socialist realism under Stalin's regime.
Step-by-step explanation:
A good example of Russian social realism is the renowned sculpture ‘The Worker and the Kolkhoz Woman’ by Vera Mukhina. Mukhina's work, created for the 1937 Paris World's Fair, exemplifies the artistic principles of socialist realism, a style that emerged in the Soviet Union during the 1920s and became the official artistic and aesthetic doctrine under Stalin. The sculpture, depicting a man and a woman brandishing a hammer and sickle respectively, symbolizes the alliance between the industrial and agricultural workers and exemplifies the idealistic, optimistic view of the Soviet future.
The purpose of socialist realism was to promote socialism by showing Soviet life in a positive light and to portray the development towards the communist society as inevitable. The movement had a significant influence on various art forms, including literature, painting, and sculpture, and it remained the dominant style until the mid-20th century. Vera Mukhina’s sculpture remains an iconic piece of this period and is a testament to the power of art in ideological and political contexts.