Art and Faith

Saturday, 7 February 2009

Olga Dolgaya. A Sorrowful Reverie. 1998

Filed under: Impressionist, Russian, contemporary, domestic, fine art, human study, portrait — 01varvara @ 1330

olga-dolgaya-a-sorrowful-reverie-1998

A Sorrowful Reverie (Olga Dolgaya, 1998).

Olga Dolgaya. A Still-Life with a Reflection. 1999

Filed under: Impressionist, Russian, contemporary, domestic, fine art, still life — 01varvara @ 1330

olga-dolgaya-a-still-life-with-a-reflection-1999

A Still-Life with a Reflection (Olga Dolgaya, 1999)

Olga Dolgaya. A Table Set for Tea. 2000

Filed under: Russian, contemporary, domestic, fine art, still life — 01varvara @ 1330

olga-dolgaya-a-table-set-for-tea-2000

A Table Set for Tea (Olga Dolgaya, 2000)

Olga Dolgaya. A Still-Life with Flowers. 2006

Filed under: Russian, contemporary, domestic, fine art, flowers, still life — 01varvara @ 1330

olga-dolgaya-a-still-life-with-flowers-2006

A Still-Life with Flowers (Olga Dolgaya, 2006)

Monday, 19 January 2009

Firs Zhuravlyov. A Replete Table. undated (1860s-80s)

Filed under: 19th century, Russian, domestic, fine art, human study, town scene — 01varvara @ 1330

firs-zhuravlyov-a-replete-table

A Replete Table (Firs Zhuravlyov, undated (1860s-80s))

This painting reminds you of a Hogarth engraving, does it not? There is the same exaggerated satire, the same biting observation of sinful–ginful humanity. Obviously, this is a depiction of  a party held by a lower official or the lower kind of merchnt. Certainly, it is not a gathering of the local gentry!

Indeed, it appears to be a cutting artistic comment on the “new men” of the period. This is GLUTTONY. Note well that the priest and deacon are sitting near the host and they are stuffing themselves as cheerfully as the rest. One can see the artist holding his nose as he stands at his easel…

Sunday, 18 January 2009

Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky. Grief. 1909

Filed under: Russian, domestic, early modern, fine art, human study, rural scene — 01varvara @ 1330

nikolai-bogdanov-belsky-grief-1909

Grief (Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky, 1909)

Whose untimely death is being mourned here? Is it a beloved wife and mother? Or, is it a little son or daughter carried away by a childhood disease? Or, is it the news of a son who is not going to return from the army because he fell on a foreign field? One doesn’t know… But, one thing is certain, no matter if the family is humble, of the middle classes, or of the nobility, the emotion felt is the same… exactly the same.

Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky. Hitting the Books. 1915

Filed under: Russian, domestic, early modern, fine art, human study — 01varvara @ 1330

nikolai-bogdanov-belsky-hitting-the-books-1915

Hitting the Books (Nikolai Bogdanov-Belsky, 1915)

Cramming for exams is no new thing… But, one can tell that some of these girls are from poorer families. They have to share the same textbook. However, the thirst for knowledge is evident.

Monday, 12 January 2009

Valery Busygin. A Cat. 1992

Filed under: Russian, animal study, contemporary, domestic, fine art — 01varvara @ 1330

valery-busygin-a-cat-1992

A Cat (Valery Busygin, 1992)

This cat reminds me of one of our cats, Poochie, a grey tomcat. No, his fur is not matted, but, he is as every bit as inquisitive and bold. Nicky named him Poochie because “he acts like a dog”, in his words. That is, Poochie is very protective and “guards the house”. It is interesting how this cat came into Nicky’s life. Nicky heard a scratching at the door, and, when he opened the door, Poochie meowed, walked in, and made himself right at home. That was ten years ago…

Sunday, 11 January 2009

David Shteyngartz. Guests. 2005

Filed under: Russian, contemporary, domestic, fine art, human study — 01varvara @ 1330

david-shteyngartz-guests-2005

Guests (David Shteyngartz, 2005)

Saturday, 10 January 2009

Andrei Drozdov. It’s Getting Cold. 2000

Filed under: Russian, contemporary, domestic, fine art, human study, rural scene — 01varvara @ 1330

andrei-drozdov-getting-cold-2000

It’s Getting Cold (Andrei Drozdov, 2000)

Next Page »

Blog at WordPress.com.