Natasha's Dance (131 page)
fishing, womanizing, brothels - and perhaps it was because he knew his friend so well that,
fishing, womanizing, brothels - and perhaps it was because he knew his friend so well that,
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The Seagull
108
Levitan’s approach to landscape painting was very similar to Chekhov’s own depictions of
Levitan’s approach to landscape painting was very similar to Chekhov’s own depictions of
Levitan’s approach to landscape painting was very similar to Chekhov’s own depictions of
109
A large flock of sheep was spending the night by the wide steppe road that is called the mai
A large flock of sheep was spending the night by the wide steppe road that is called the mai
A large flock of sheep was spending the night by the wide steppe road that is called the mai
snow, losing its definition. The sky became cloudy and dull, so that you could not determ
snow, losing its definition. The sky became cloudy and dull, so that you could not determ
snow, losing its definition. The sky became cloudy and dull, so that you could not determ
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What Chekhov most admired in Levitan’s art (and Levitan in Chekhov’s) was its spiritual r
What Chekhov most admired in Levitan’s art (and Levitan in Chekhov’s) was its spiritual r
What Chekhov most admired in Levitan’s art (and Levitan in Chekhov’s) was its spiritual r
The Rooks Have Returned
A Quiet Dwelling
In Easter week the Laptevs went to the School of Art to see a picture exhibition… Julia st
In Easter week the Laptevs went to the School of Art to see a picture exhibition… Julia st
In Easter week the Laptevs went to the School of Art to see a picture exhibition… Julia st
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Chekhov knew the works of Monet and Cezanne; none the less, he considered Levitan the grea
Chekhov knew the works of Monet and Cezanne; none the less, he considered Levitan the grea
Chekhov knew the works of Monet and Cezanne; none the less, he considered Levitan the grea
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The Village
you can’t take your eyes off it; you just want to keep looking and looking at it. No one has ma
you can’t take your eyes off it; you just want to keep looking and looking at it. No one has ma
you can’t take your eyes off it; you just want to keep looking and looking at it. No one has ma
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In 1886 Levitan made the first of several trips to the Volga steppe. These marked the start
In 1886 Levitan made the first of several trips to the Volga steppe. These marked the start
In 1886 Levitan made the first of several trips to the Volga steppe. These marked the start
Evenings on the Volga
A wide boundless plain encircled by a chain of low hills lay stretched before the travel
A wide boundless plain encircled by a chain of low hills lay stretched before the travel
A wide boundless plain encircled by a chain of low hills lay stretched before the travel
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Enthused by the steppe, the two men thought of travelling together to Siberia, and Chekhov
Enthused by the steppe, the two men thought of travelling together to Siberia, and Chekhov
Enthused by the steppe, the two men thought of travelling together to Siberia, and Chekhov
115
Like Chekhov, Levitan was drawn towards Siberia’s penal history. In his Vladimirka (1892)
Like Chekhov, Levitan was drawn towards Siberia’s penal history. In his Vladimirka (1892)
Like Chekhov, Levitan was drawn towards Siberia’s penal history. In his Vladimirka (1892)
Vladimirka
Sakhalin.
’The Grasshopper’). The painter had chanced upon the famous highway near Boldino in Vlad
’The Grasshopper’). The painter had chanced upon the famous highway near Boldino in Vlad
’The Grasshopper’). The painter had chanced upon the famous highway near Boldino in Vlad
116
The long white line of the road faded as it disappeared among the forests on the blue hori
The long white line of the road faded as it disappeared among the forests on the blue hori
The long white line of the road faded as it disappeared among the forests on the blue hori
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Looking at this scene, as Levitan portrayed it, one cannot fail to feel the desolation -
Looking at this scene, as Levitan portrayed it, one cannot fail to feel the desolation -
Looking at this scene, as Levitan portrayed it, one cannot fail to feel the desolation -
Chekhov’s ‘Steppe’ is also dominated by this atmosphere of suffering. Its boundless spa
Chekhov’s ‘Steppe’ is also dominated by this atmosphere of suffering. Its boundless spa
Chekhov’s ‘Steppe’ is also dominated by this atmosphere of suffering. Its boundless spa
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Chekhov’s ambiguity toward the steppe - seeing both the beauty and the bleak monotony of
Chekhov’s ambiguity toward the steppe - seeing both the beauty and the bleak monotony of
Chekhov’s ambiguity toward the steppe - seeing both the beauty and the bleak monotony of
After Igor’s Battle with the Polovtsians
Bogatyrs
the legendary warriors from which it takes its name. This is emphasized by the central bo
the legendary warriors from which it takes its name. This is emphasized by the central bo
the legendary warriors from which it takes its name. This is emphasized by the central bo
bogatyr,
Mikula Selianovicb
Arabesques
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On the other hand, the sheer monotony of the never-ending steppe drove many Russian poets
On the other hand, the sheer monotony of the never-ending steppe drove many Russian poets
On the other hand, the sheer monotony of the never-ending steppe drove many Russian poets
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the poisonous peculiarity of emptying a man, of sucking dry his desires. The peasant has
the poisonous peculiarity of emptying a man, of sucking dry his desires. The peasant has
the poisonous peculiarity of emptying a man, of sucking dry his desires. The peasant has
122
but it was not just the peasant who became more dull from living on the steppe. The gentry did
but it was not just the peasant who became more dull from living on the steppe. The gentry did
but it was not just the peasant who became more dull from living on the steppe. The gentry did
country house, miles away from any neighbours in that social class, the lack of stimulati
country house, miles away from any neighbours in that social class, the lack of stimulati
country house, miles away from any neighbours in that social class, the lack of stimulati
The Golovlyov Family
[Arina] spent most of the day dozing. She would sit in her armchair by the table where her gru
[Arina] spent most of the day dozing. She would sit in her armchair by the table where her gru
[Arina] spent most of the day dozing. She would sit in her armchair by the table where her gru
123
The Russians have a word for this inertia - Oblomovshchina - from the idle nobleman in
The Russians have a word for this inertia - Oblomovshchina - from the idle nobleman in
The Russians have a word for this inertia - Oblomovshchina - from the idle nobleman in
Oblomovshchina -
Oblomov
Oblomovsh china
(khalat).
* Though Gogol, too, had referred to such Russian ‘lie-a-beds’ in the second volume of Dea
* Though Gogol, too, had referred to such Russian ‘lie-a-beds’ in the second volume of Dea
* Though Gogol, too, had referred to such Russian ‘lie-a-beds’ in the second volume of Dea
*
Dead Souls
Dead Souls,
p. 265).
p. 265).
p. 265).
Dobroliubov even claimed that the ‘most heartfelt striving of all our Oblomovs is their stri
Dobroliubov even claimed that the ‘most heartfelt striving of all our Oblomovs is their stri
Dobroliubov even claimed that the ‘most heartfelt striving of all our Oblomovs is their stri
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6
6
6
6
6
In 1874 the Ministry of Internal Affairs in St Petersburg hosted an extraordinary exhi
In 1874 the Ministry of Internal Affairs in St Petersburg hosted an extraordinary exhi
In 1874 the Ministry of Internal Affairs in St Petersburg hosted an extraordinary exhi
deeply horrifying, in the wild energy of these canvases’, concluded one reviewer in the pre
deeply horrifying, in the wild energy of these canvases’, concluded one reviewer in the pre
deeply horrifying, in the wild energy of these canvases’, concluded one reviewer in the pre
127
It had not originally been the painter’s aim to draw this parallel. Vereshchagin started
It had not originally been the painter’s aim to draw this parallel. Vereshchagin started
It had not originally been the painter’s aim to draw this parallel. Vereshchagin started
The Volga Barge Haulers)
128
129
130
131
There was a huge storm of controversy. Liberals praised the artist for his stance against a
There was a huge storm of controversy. Liberals praised the artist for his stance against a
There was a huge storm of controversy. Liberals praised the artist for his stance against a
132
* Even Kaiser Wilhelm II, the most militarist of the German Emperors, told Vereshchagin a
* Even Kaiser Wilhelm II, the most militarist of the German Emperors, told Vereshchagin a
* Even Kaiser Wilhelm II, the most militarist of the German Emperors, told Vereshchagin a
Vos tableaux sont la meilleure assurance contre la guerre’
Vereshchagin i ego proizvedeniia
physically attacked him in the presence of his fellow officers. The General Staff condemn
physically attacked him in the presence of his fellow officers. The General Staff condemn
physically attacked him in the presence of his fellow officers. The General Staff condemn
Russian World,
133
As his opponents knew, Vereshchagin was of Tatar origin. His grandmother had been born in
As his opponents knew, Vereshchagin was of Tatar origin. His grandmother had been born in
As his opponents knew, Vereshchagin was of Tatar origin. His grandmother had been born in
134
135
136
Bitter and depressed by the campaign against him in the nationalist press, Vereshchagin f
Bitter and depressed by the campaign against him in the nationalist press, Vereshchagin f
Bitter and depressed by the campaign against him in the nationalist press, Vereshchagin f
137
138
139
years from his native land, Vereshchagin spent the remainder of his life in western Europ
years from his native land, Vereshchagin spent the remainder of his life in western Europ
years from his native land, Vereshchagin spent the remainder of his life in western Europ
Petropav-lovsk
In Russia’s educated circles the military conquest of the Central Asian steppe produced
In Russia’s educated circles the military conquest of the Central Asian steppe produced
In Russia’s educated circles the military conquest of the Central Asian steppe produced
140
141
The idea that Russia had a cultural and historic claim in Asia became a founding myth of t
The idea that Russia had a cultural and historic claim in Asia became a founding myth of t
The idea that Russia had a cultural and historic claim in Asia became a founding myth of t
FOLKLORE FANTASIES. The Rite of Spring (1913): the original score by Igor Stravinsky. Below
FOLKLORE FANTASIES. The Rite of Spring (1913): the original score by Igor Stravinsky. Below
FOLKLORE FANTASIES. The Rite of Spring (1913): the original score by Igor Stravinsky. Below
(1913): the original score by Igor Stravinsky.
Viktor Vasnetsov: set design for Mamontov’s production of Rumsky-Korsakov’s opera
(Abramtsevo, 1881). Vasnetsov’s designs, with their folk-like use of colour, became a vi
SCYTHIAN RUSSI A. The Rite of Spring was conceived by Nikolai Roerich
SCYTHIAN RUSSI A. The Rite of Spring was conceived by Nikolai Roerich
SCYTHIAN RUSSI A. The Rite of Spring was conceived by Nikolai Roerich
was conceived by Nikolai Roerich
as the re-enactment of an ancient (‘Scythian’) ritual of human sacrifice. A trained
as the re-enactment of an ancient (‘Scythian’) ritual of human sacrifice. A trained
as the re-enactment of an ancient (‘Scythian’) ritual of human sacrifice. A trained
as the re-enactment of an ancient (‘Scythian’) ritual of human sacrifice. A trained
archaeologist, Roerich designed the sets and costumes of The Rite of Spring. These were
archaeologist, Roerich designed the sets and costumes of The Rite of Spring. These were
archaeologist, Roerich designed the sets and costumes of The Rite of Spring. These were
archaeologist, Roerich designed the sets and costumes
These were
reproduced by the Joffrey Ballet for its revival of the original ballet in 1987 (above).
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