Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. Stepan Razin. 1918

Stepan Razin

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin

1918

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. The Firebird. 1918

The Firebird

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin

1918

Vasili Nesterenko. The Oath of Prince Pozharsky. 2008

The Oath of Prince Pozharsky

Vasili Nesterenko

2008

Here is a detail fragment of the above in better resolution:

Konstantin Zvezdochetov. Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour! no date (2000s?)

Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour!

Konstantin Zvezdochetov

undated (2000s?)

_______________________________

This work is indicitive of the creative synthesis taking part in Russia today. Russians are not merely rejecting Communism, rather, they are taking what was good from the Soviet period and combining it with the best of the Tsarist and Old Russian traditions. In short, it is not merely a slavish imitation of American-style “democracy” (which has disappointed many in the West), but, it is a unique construct suited to the particular history, culture, and weltanshauung of Russia. That is to say, it stands in opposition to many of the accepted verities of “modernity”… thank God for that!

BMD