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Alexander Blok, Russian poet, c1917-1921. Pictured with members of the Extraordinary Ruling Commission. Blok (second from right) (1880-1921) was a leading member of the Symbolist movement in Russian literature. He is regarded as one of the greatest Russian poets after Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), with whom he was often compared. Although he initially accepted the Russian Revolution, Blok became disillusioned with the Bolsheviks. He died in 1921 after having been denied permission to travel abroad for medical treatment until it was too late. Found in the collection of the State Museum of AS Pushkin, Moscow.