One of my favorite Russian artists is Ilya Repin. The painting above is called “They did not expect him.” It is in Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery. I always enjoy seeing it. Repin was one of the “Peredvizhniki” or “The Wanderers.” These famous artists in the late 19th century rebelled against the academic formalism of the Imperial Academy and portrayed the hard lot of the poor folk, the common men and women. Today much of Repin’s art can be seen in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg as well as the Tretyakov.
Now Russian art is getting the big money. I was amazed to see where a Repin recently was sold at Christie’s auction for over $7.3 million. It was one he did in Paris, called “Parisian Café.”
There is a very interesting story behind Repin’s “They did not expect him,” but that is for another time. Contact me if you want to discuss this or any of the “Peredvizhniki,” as it is all a favorite art subject of mine. Repin, clearly, is one of the best.
Learn more about Russian Art, Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.
Tags: http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Ice-American-Businessman-Russia/dp/1432713523, Ilya Repin, Peredvizhniki, St. Petersburg, State Russian Museum, they did not expect him, Tretyakov, walking on ice
About Fred, Books by Fred Andresen, history, Intercultural relations, Russian Life, The Arts, The writing process, travel, Uncategorized, Walking on Ice | fred | 
June 9, 2011 5:43 am | 
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Ilya Repin 17 October 1905
October seems to have a special place in Russian history. I have a theory about it. I think there are only two months you have to be concerned about—August and October. The rest is not a problem. Think about it!
August is when the leaders take vacation, and those who don’t might think it is a good time to move into the empty offices. That is what happened to Gorbachev in August 1991. It is also the time, as on weekends, that demonstrators (by definition those who don’t have dachas) can be gathered in the largest numbers for maximum effect against those who do have dachas. But things may not get delivered on time, like flags and banners, or picks and crowbars, in which case it may be October before everyone gets their act together. (The 1905, 1917, 1993 revolutions)
After October, it gets cold, and it’s no fun marching in the cold rain and snow. December is too cold and the New Year and Christmas are coming. January is the time to get drunk. In February, the snow is too deep and still too cold for action. March is too muddy. April and May—now who would want to start a revolution in the quiet and beauty of an idyllic Russian spring? Anything requiring thought and action can wait. Read more »
Tags: Gorbachev, Ilya Repin, RIA Novosti, Russian revolution 1905, Russian Revolution 1917
About Fred, history, Literature, Russian Life, Uncategorized, Walking on Ice | fred | November 3, 2010 6:30 am | Comments (0)
Recently I was introduced to a Russian lady here in California who soon informed me she was in fact a Cossack. In my interest in Russian history and culture I know about the Cossacks, but hard facts are elusive as to who they really are. I knew them from the dramatic pictures and wild stories and that they chased Napoleon out of Russia in 1812. A few questions from my ignorance brought her answer, “Cossacks are a nation.” The origin of the name “Cossack” is from an early Turkic word meaning “free man”—anyone who could not find his appropriate place in society and went into the steppes, where he acknowledged no authority. An independent people they have always been.
Olga told us of her family, its terrible treatment under Stalin, the “disappearance” of most of the men, Meeting Olga encouraged me to do a little research and I find their identity goes back the 16th century in that southern steppe lands of Eastern Europe and Asian Russia, around the Dnieper and Don rivers—that geographic location destined to be forever in the way of invading armies going south or north, with the Cossacks allying with one side or the other, or both.
As I underline in “Walking on Ice, an American Businessman in Russia,” I am always amazed at the determination and strength of many of the Russian women who come here for a new life. To meet a Cossack woman, here only three years, with a good job, and hear her decent English and resolve to better herself in this totally different culture, is admirable. The Cossacks are coming, but maybe only one at a time.
The Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan of Turkey, the painting by Ilya Repin shown above is in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg
Tags: Cosdacks, Cossacks, Don River, Ilya Repin, russia, Russian Museum, Turks, Ukraine, Walking on Icc, Zaporozhian
About Fred, Books by Fred Andresen, history, Intercultural relations, Literature, Russian Life, Uncategorized, Walking on Ice | fred | August 30, 2010 7:08 am | Comments (0)
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