Re: [SEELANGS] Canadian Russian Paintings

>Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2004 00:55:32 -0800
>From: Jack Kollmann <[email protected]>
>Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Canadian Russian Paintings
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>>The exact address of the exhibit is
>>http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Horizons/.
>>Sincerely,
>>Donna Orwin
>
>         Contrary to another respondent, I am not bothered by the broad
>rubric of "Russian paintings" under which this magnificent and
>well-reproduced collection of works is brought together and made available,
>together with "Canadian" paintings.  If all the "Russian" painters were not
>necessarily born, trained, worked exclusively, and died solely in Russia,
>nevertheless their connection with the Russian Empire and Soviet Union is
>clear enough.  Although the logic of combining Russian and Canadian
>landscapes is weak, as is the subdivision of works under themes of Roots,
>Self, Voyage, and Spirit, the "Russian" half of the exhibit is
>impressive.  I can think of even weaker excuses for art exhibits than this
>landscape theme -- e.g., play and passion in Russian art, or the color red
>in Russian art.  The Tret'iakovka has supplied significant works from both
>its halls and backrooms, and the inclusion of paintings from regional
>museums -- Irkutsk, Nizhnyi-Novgorod, Omsk, Samara, and Smolensk -- is
>especially welcome.  Famous paintings abide alongside less well known ones,
>some display lesser known periods and characteristics of artists.  One can
>only hope that this internet resource will be maintained permanently.
>
>Jack Kollmann
>Stanford University
>