Lenin in Poland

In the early 1970's Brezhnev announces to the Politburo that he is making a state visit to Poland, and that in honor of the trip he wishes to bring the Polish people a momentous gift. It is decided that Brezhnev should bring a large painting entitled "Lenin In Poland." After all, what could be a more meaningful expression of Soviet-Polish solidarity than a portrait of Lenin, the god of Soviet communism, visiting Poland? Unfortunately, Lenin never visited Poland, and the "great masters" of the Artist's Union, their minds constricted by socialist realism, can come up with no ideas how to depict Lenin in Poland.

Time is running short, and the Soviet leadership is growing desparate. Finally it is decided to approach Rabinowitz, a dissedent artist. "We know you have voiced many complaints against your country," a visiting KGB delegation tells him. "But if you perform this service for the motherland, we promise you a large apartment and a lot of work."

Rabinowitz agrees to make the painting of Lenin in Poland. Three weeks later, the day before the trip, Brezhnev leads a delegation of Politburo members into a conference room. There stands Rabinowitz in front of a large canvas covered by a drop-cloth. "Let us see the painting," Brezhnev orders.

Rabinowitz removes the drop-cloth, and everybody in the room gasps.. The painting shows a man in bed with a woman.

"Who is that man?" someone shouts at Rabinowitz.

"That's Trotsky."

Another gasp.

"And who is the woman?" another Politburo member yells out.

"Krupskaya, Lenin's wife."

"And where is Lenin?" Brezhnev thunders

"Lenin's in Poland."