Canadian Russian Paintings

[Jack Kollmann]

>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

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