Shrovetide

Like a powerful chord marking the final theme of the exhibition of the Russian winter, so sounds Boris Kustodiev's “Shrovetide". Here we see everything that makes up a winter folk festival: the cheerful carousel with the noisy traveling show, the proud, bearded coachmen in their dashing painted sleighs, the frolicking in the snow, and rollicking songs to the rhythmic teasing strains of the accordion. And below, at the foot of the hill, stretches the fabulous snow-covered town, sparkling with frosty, ice-laced roofs, the shiny domes of churches and multicolored bell towers soar up into the emerald green heavens, where yellow-pink clouds drift and flocks of birds circle. Before us is the spacious beauty of Russia, with its centuries-old traditions. This is not so much reality as it is the good life, as imagined in the dreams of the people. Looking at this painting, it is hard to believe that it was created at a time when the artist was suffering from a terminal illness. Paralyzed and permanently confined to a wheelchair, Kustodiev, referring to his lot in life, stated, "My world is this – my room." But, despite everything, it was in that room where works as bright and full of life and optimism as "Maslenitsa" were born.