in september 47 , a creative atmosphere reigned during painting classes at the newly opened minsk art schooleach of the students created their own masterpiece: dawn, a favorite landscape outside the village, at night by the fire. for first-year students, this was freedom of expression. there was no strict gaze of the teacher, who usually approached everyone, something prompted, corrected something, advised something, each individual, embodied his story on canvas. valentin viktorovich volkov, having settled down a little to the side, also painted a picture, copying the images of the heroes from his students. here are the students gathered at the table. young, happy, they are discussing a new book, arguing about something, they have so many plans, a long, happy life ahead. the artist, who survived a terrible war, did this with love, trying to capture the new young generation. he called the picture "students". valentin viktorovich's painting volkova, also called university students, became symbolic for the first post-war years. future-oriented youth, for whom all paths were open. new profession