Ilya Glazunov. Seeing Off the Army: from the cycle “Kulikovo Field”. 1979

Seeing Off the Army: from the cycle “Kulikovo Field” (Ilya Glazunov, 1979)

This illustrates why our men fight. They do not fight for nebulous notions such as “democracy”; they fight to protect us women and our children. They fight to keep our homes safe and secure. It is part of their God-given task as men. Our task as women is different, we nurture new life, we have a different gift altogether. So many today believe that the traditional roles were man-made and constricting. I am not so sure. My observation is that men and women are quite different, on a very basic and ontological level. Of our own accord, we naturally follow quite different paths, but, both are intertwined and interdependent.

I can feel her concern and heartbreak… can’t you? Shall he return? God willing…

Ilya Glazunov. The Night After the Battle. 1979

The Night After the Battle (Ilya Glazunov, 1979)

This depicts the battlefield of Kulikovo Polye after the fighting was over. People are seeking their loved ones, to see if they were amongst the fallen. We should remember that this is the cost of war

Ilya Glazunov. The Contributions of the Peoples of the USSR to World Civilisation. 1980

The Contributions of the Peoples of the USSR to World Civilisation (Ilya Glazunov, 1980)

The red-shirted figure at the top of the painting is a restatement of the image found in Glazunov’s 1964 painting Russian Icarus. At this early date, Glazunov brings the Christian roots of Russia to the fore. The present revivial in Russia has very deep roots, indeed. It did not just start in 1991. That’s a point to ponder…

Ilya Glazunov. Prince Dmitri Donskoi: from the cycle “Kulikovo Field”. 1980

Prince Dmitri Donskoi: from the cycle “Kulikovo Field” (Ilya Glazunov, 1980)

This is a portrayal of Grand Prince St Dmitri Donskoi before the pivotal battle of Kulikovo Polye in 1380. The Russians gained a victory over the Tatar host, thus, securing the independence of the Russian state. This is rightly considered one of the defining moments of Russian history.