Paris, France
The authenticity of Russian painting
Painting has occupied a central place in Russian culture for centuries. Icons were not merely works of art but sacred objects, venerated in churches and homes alike. They embodied a form of communication with the divine.
In the 19th century, painting also became a tool for political and social transformation. The works of the Peredvizhniki served as social manifestos, highlighting the suffering and injustices in Russia.
This role of art as a witness and agent of change persisted into the 20th century, as avant-garde artists used their works to question the political upheavals of their time.
Whether realist or abstract, painting has always been a way for Russians to explore their collective identity, their relationship to nature, and their society.