Natasha's Dance (134 page)
Life, underneath the surface there is a collision of diverse beliefs. The red squirre
Life, underneath the surface there is a collision of diverse beliefs. The red squirre
Life
echoing the golden dome of the chapel to the right, is an emblem of the forest spirits, to who
echoing the golden dome of the chapel to the right, is an emblem of the forest spirits, to who
echoing the golden dome of the chapel to the right, is an emblem of the forest spirits, to who
sacrifice. The old man in the foreground may have the appearance of
sacrifice. The old man in the foreground may have the appearance of
sacrifice. The old man in the foreground may have the appearance of
a Christian pilgrim, but his supernaturally coloured beard (a pale
a Christian pilgrim, but his supernaturally coloured beard (a pale
a Christian pilgrim, but his supernaturally coloured beard (a pale
green) may also mark him out as a sorcerer, while his stick and musical
green) may also mark him out as a sorcerer, while his stick and musical
green) may also mark him out as a sorcerer, while his stick and musical
accomplice, in the form of the piper to his right, suggest shamanic lore.164 Several of Kand
accomplice, in the form of the piper to his right, suggest shamanic lore.164 Several of Kand
accomplice, in the form of the piper to his right, suggest shamanic lore.164 Several of Kand
164
All Saints II
troika
165
Composition II,
Tempered Elan,
alter ego
The shaman’s oval drum is another leitmotif of Kandinsky’s art. The circle and the line whic
The shaman’s oval drum is another leitmotif of Kandinsky’s art. The circle and the line whic
The shaman’s oval drum is another leitmotif of Kandinsky’s art. The circle and the line whic
Oval No.
the symbols he had seen on the drums of Siberian shamans: a hooked curve and line to symbol
the symbols he had seen on the drums of Siberian shamans: a hooked curve and line to symbol
the symbols he had seen on the drums of Siberian shamans: a hooked curve and line to symbol
166
167
In eastern Europe the hobby horse has a preternatural pedigree which belies its benign s
In eastern Europe the hobby horse has a preternatural pedigree which belies its benign s
In eastern Europe the hobby horse has a preternatural pedigree which belies its benign s
taltos,
Kalevala
The Bronze Horseman.
Where will you gallop, charger proud, Where next your plunging hoofbeats settle?168
Where will you gallop, charger proud, Where next your plunging hoofbeats settle?168
Where will you gallop, charger proud, Where next your plunging hoofbeats settle?168
168
For the Symbolist circles in which Kandinsky moved, the horse was a symbol of the Asiatic step
For the Symbolist circles in which Kandinsky moved, the horse was a symbol of the Asiatic step
For the Symbolist circles in which Kandinsky moved, the horse was a symbol of the Asiatic step
Bathing the Red Horse
Petersburg.
7
7
7
7
7
overleaf: Anna Akhmatova at the Fountain House
overleaf: Anna Akhmatova at the Fountain House
overleaf: Anna Akhmatova at the Fountain House
Anna
Akhmatova
Akhmatova
Akhmatova
at the Fountain House
1
1
1
1
Akhmatova arrived at the Fountain House, the former palace of the Sheremetevs, when she
Akhmatova arrived at the Fountain House, the former palace of the Sheremetevs, when she
Akhmatova arrived at the Fountain House, the former palace of the Sheremetevs, when she
1
‘Deus conservat omnia’
* After the outbreak of the First World War the German-sounding name of St Petersburg was c
* After the outbreak of the First World War the German-sounding name of St Petersburg was c
* After the outbreak of the First World War the German-sounding name of St Petersburg was c
became the guiding redemptive principle of Ahkmatova’s life and art. Although she was on
became the guiding redemptive principle of Ahkmatova’s life and art. Although she was on
became the guiding redemptive principle of Ahkmatova’s life and art. Although she was on
Evening
Rosary
I taught women to speak…
I taught women to speak…
I taught women to speak…
But Lord, how to make them cease!2
But Lord, how to make them cease!2
But Lord, how to make them cease!2
2
On the eve of the First World War, Akhmatova was at the height of her success. Tall and aston
On the eve of the First World War, Akhmatova was at the height of her success. Tall and aston
On the eve of the First World War, Akhmatova was at the height of her success. Tall and aston
3
We aged a hundred years, and this Happened in a single hour: The short summer had already d
We aged a hundred years, and this Happened in a single hour: The short summer had already d
We aged a hundred years, and this Happened in a single hour: The short summer had already d
Suddenly the quiet road burst into colour, A lament flew up, ringing, silver… Covering my
Suddenly the quiet road burst into colour, A lament flew up, ringing, silver… Covering my
Suddenly the quiet road burst into colour, A lament flew up, ringing, silver… Covering my
Like a burden henceforth unnecessary, The shadows of passion and songs vanished
Like a burden henceforth unnecessary, The shadows of passion and songs vanished
Like a burden henceforth unnecessary, The shadows of passion and songs vanished
from my memory. The Most High ordered it - emptied -To become a grim book of calamity.4
from my memory. The Most High ordered it - emptied -To become a grim book of calamity.4
from my memory. The Most High ordered it - emptied -To become a grim book of calamity.4
4
After all the horrors of the First World War and the Russian Revolution, Akhmatova’s inti
After all the horrors of the First World War and the Russian Revolution, Akhmatova’s inti
After all the horrors of the First World War and the Russian Revolution, Akhmatova’s inti
The February Revolution had swept away, not just the monarchy, but an entire civilizati
The February Revolution had swept away, not just the monarchy, but an entire civilizati
The February Revolution had swept away, not just the monarchy, but an entire civilizati
the Whites (a motley collection of monarchists, democrats and socialists opposed to the
the Whites (a motley collection of monarchists, democrats and socialists opposed to the
the Whites (a motley collection of monarchists, democrats and socialists opposed to the
Popularly seen as a war against all privilege, the practical ideology of the Russian Revo
Popularly seen as a war against all privilege, the practical ideology of the Russian Revo
Popularly seen as a war against all privilege, the practical ideology of the Russian Revo
The Peasant Poor (Krestianskaia bednota).
pravda,
By giving institutional form to this crusade, the Bolsheviks were able to draw on the re
By giving institutional form to this crusade, the Bolsheviks were able to draw on the re
By giving institutional form to this crusade, the Bolsheviks were able to draw on the re
5
arrested by the Cheka in the early years of the Bolshevik regime had been denounced by the
arrested by the Cheka in the early years of the Bolshevik regime had been denounced by the
arrested by the Cheka in the early years of the Bolshevik regime had been denounced by the
Akhmatova was dismissed as a figure from the past. Left-wing critics said her private poetr
Akhmatova was dismissed as a figure from the past. Left-wing critics said her private poetr
Akhmatova was dismissed as a figure from the past. Left-wing critics said her private poetr
6
And confined to this savage capital,
And confined to this savage capital,
And confined to this savage capital,
We have forgotten forever
We have forgotten forever
We have forgotten forever
The lakes, the steppes, the towns,
The lakes, the steppes, the towns,
The lakes, the steppes, the towns,
And the dawns of our great native land.
And the dawns of our great native land.
And the dawns of our great native land.
Day and night in the bloody circle
Day and night in the bloody circle
Day and night in the bloody circle
A brutal languor overcomes us…
A brutal languor overcomes us…
A brutal languor overcomes us…
No one wants to help us
No one wants to help us
No one wants to help us
Because we stayed home,
Because we stayed home,
Because we stayed home,
Because, loving our city
Because, loving our city
Because, loving our city
And not winged freedom,
And not winged freedom,
And not winged freedom,
We preserved for ourselves
We preserved for ourselves
We preserved for ourselves
Its palaces, its fire and water.
Its palaces, its fire and water.
Its palaces, its fire and water.
A different time is drawing near,
A different time is drawing near,
A different time is drawing near,
The wind of death already chills the heart,
The wind of death already chills the heart,
The wind of death already chills the heart,
But the holy city of Peter
But the holy city of Peter
But the holy city of Peter
Will be our unintended monument.7
Will be our unintended monument.7
Will be our unintended monument.7
7
For the old intelligentsia conditions were particularly harsh. In the Dictatorship of
For the old intelligentsia conditions were particularly harsh. In the Dictatorship of
For the old intelligentsia conditions were particularly harsh. In the Dictatorship of
8
Akhmatova also turned to Gorky for help, asking him to find her work and get her a ration. She
Akhmatova also turned to Gorky for help, asking him to find her work and get her a ration. She
Akhmatova also turned to Gorky for help, asking him to find her work and get her a ration. She
Akhmatova; perhaps he disliked her and her poetry. But in 1920 she did at last find work as a li
Akhmatova; perhaps he disliked her and her poetry. But in 1920 she did at last find work as a li
Akhmatova; perhaps he disliked her and her poetry. But in 1920 she did at last find work as a li
In August 1921, Akhmatova’s former husband Nikolai Gumilev was arrested by the Petrogra
In August 1921, Akhmatova’s former husband Nikolai Gumilev was arrested by the Petrogra
In August 1921, Akhmatova’s former husband Nikolai Gumilev was arrested by the Petrogra
Anno Domini MCMXXI (In the Year of Our Lord 1921)
The tear-stained autumn, like a widow
The tear-stained autumn, like a widow
The tear-stained autumn, like a widow
In black weeds, clouds every heart…
In black weeds, clouds every heart…
In black weeds, clouds every heart…
Recalling her husband’s words,
Recalling her husband’s words,
Recalling her husband’s words,
She sobs without ceasing.
She sobs without ceasing.
She sobs without ceasing.
And thus it will be, until the most quiet snow
And thus it will be, until the most quiet snow
And thus it will be, until the most quiet snow
Takes pity on the sorrowful and weary one…
Takes pity on the sorrowful and weary one…
Takes pity on the sorrowful and weary one…
Oblivion of pain and oblivion of bliss -
Oblivion of pain and oblivion of bliss -
Oblivion of pain and oblivion of bliss -
To give up life for this is no small thing.10
To give up life for this is no small thing.10
To give up life for this is no small thing.10
10
Akhmatova had no hopes for the Revolution - she had only fears. Yet she made it clear that s
Akhmatova had no hopes for the Revolution - she had only fears. Yet she made it clear that s
Akhmatova had no hopes for the Revolution - she had only fears. Yet she made it clear that s
I am not with those who abandoned their land To the lacerations of the enemy. I am deaf to
I am not with those who abandoned their land To the lacerations of the enemy. I am deaf to
I am not with those who abandoned their land To the lacerations of the enemy. I am deaf to
But to me the exile is forever pitiful,
But to me the exile is forever pitiful,
But to me the exile is forever pitiful,
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