Natasha's Dance (133 page)
But now the time had come for the ‘old world’ of Europe to ‘halt before the Sphinx’:
Yes, Russia is a Sphinx. Exulting, grieving, And sweating blood, she cannot sate Her eyes tha
Yes, Russia is a Sphinx. Exulting, grieving, And sweating blood, she cannot sate Her eyes tha
Yes, Russia is a Sphinx. Exulting, grieving, And sweating blood, she cannot sate Her eyes tha
Russia still had what Europe had long lost - ‘a love that burns like fire’ - a violence that r
Russia still had what Europe had long lost - ‘a love that burns like fire’ - a violence that r
Russia still had what Europe had long lost - ‘a love that burns like fire’ - a violence that r
Come to us from the horrors of war,
Come to us from the horrors of war,
Come to us from the horrors of war,
Come to our peaceful arms and rest.
Come to our peaceful arms and rest.
Come to our peaceful arms and rest.
Comrades, before it is too late,
Comrades, before it is too late,
Comrades, before it is too late,
Sheathe the old sword, may brotherhood be blest.
Sheathe the old sword, may brotherhood be blest.
Sheathe the old sword, may brotherhood be blest.
But if the West refused to embrace this ‘Russian spirit’, Russia would unleash the Asiat
But if the West refused to embrace this ‘Russian spirit’, Russia would unleash the Asiat
But if the West refused to embrace this ‘Russian spirit’, Russia would unleash the Asiat
Know that we will no longer be your shield But, careless of the battle cries, We shall look
Know that we will no longer be your shield But, careless of the battle cries, We shall look
Know that we will no longer be your shield But, careless of the battle cries, We shall look
We shall not move when the savage Hun
We shall not move when the savage Hun
We shall not move when the savage Hun
Despoils the corpse and leaves it bare,
Despoils the corpse and leaves it bare,
Despoils the corpse and leaves it bare,
Burns towns, herds the cattle in the church,
Burns towns, herds the cattle in the church,
Burns towns, herds the cattle in the church,
And the smell of white flesh roasting fills the air.151
And the smell of white flesh roasting fills the air.151
And the smell of white flesh roasting fills the air.151
151
The inspiration of Blok’s apocalyptic vision (and of much else besides in the Russian a
The inspiration of Blok’s apocalyptic vision (and of much else besides in the Russian a
The inspiration of Blok’s apocalyptic vision (and of much else besides in the Russian a
The Scythians.
Pan-Mongolism! What a savage name! Yet it is music to my ears.152
Pan-Mongolism! What a savage name! Yet it is music to my ears.152
Pan-Mongolism! What a savage name! Yet it is music to my ears.152
152
In his last major essay, Three Conversations on War, Progress and the End of History (1900)
In his last major essay, Three Conversations on War, Progress and the End of History (1900)
In his last major essay, Three Conversations on War, Progress and the End of History (1900)
Three Conversations on War, Progress and the End of History
Andrei Bely was another disciple of Soloviev. In Petersburg Bely maps a city living on the
Andrei Bely was another disciple of Soloviev. In Petersburg Bely maps a city living on the
Andrei Bely was another disciple of Soloviev. In Petersburg Bely maps a city living on the
Petersburg
The Bronze Horseman.
Russian Nights.*
By the middle of the nineteenth century the notion of the flood had become so integral t
By the middle of the nineteenth century the notion of the flood had become so integral t
By the middle of the nineteenth century the notion of the flood had become so integral t
The Last Days of Pompeii
* The story of a beautiful princess who abandons her young lover to marry a middle-aged off
* The story of a beautiful princess who abandons her young lover to marry a middle-aged off
* The story of a beautiful princess who abandons her young lover to marry a middle-aged off
viewed as a warning to St Petersburg.* Slavophiles like Gogol, a close friend of Bruillo
viewed as a warning to St Petersburg.* Slavophiles like Gogol, a close friend of Bruillo
viewed as a warning to St Petersburg.* Slavophiles like Gogol, a close friend of Bruillo
153
154
The Bronze Horseman
The Rite of Spring
And over Russia I see a quiet Far-spreading fire consume all.155
And over Russia I see a quiet Far-spreading fire consume all.155
And over Russia I see a quiet Far-spreading fire consume all.155
155
Bely portrays Petersburg as a fragile Western civilization precariously balanced on
Bely portrays Petersburg as a fragile Western civilization precariously balanced on
Bely portrays Petersburg as a fragile Western civilization precariously balanced on
The novel takes division as its central theme. The city is divided into warring class-ba
The novel takes division as its central theme. The city is divided into warring class-ba
The novel takes division as its central theme. The city is divided into warring class-ba
* Apocalyptic fantasies of modern technological cities destroyed by Nature obsesse
* Apocalyptic fantasies of modern technological cities destroyed by Nature obsesse
* Apocalyptic fantasies of modern technological cities destroyed by Nature obsesse
In Bluebeard’s Castle
Some Notes Towards the Redefinition of
ulture
pp.20-24)
pp.20-24)
pp.20-24)
follower of Kant but ‘entirely Mongol’ in his way of life, so that ‘his soul is divided in two
follower of Kant but ‘entirely Mongol’ in his way of life, so that ‘his soul is divided in two
follower of Kant but ‘entirely Mongol’ in his way of life, so that ‘his soul is divided in two
He had a fear of space. The landscape of the countryside actually frightened him. Beyon
He had a fear of space. The landscape of the countryside actually frightened him. Beyon
He had a fear of space. The landscape of the countryside actually frightened him. Beyon
Apollon Apollonovich Ableukhov ensconced himself behind city walls for many years, hatin
Apollon Apollonovich Ableukhov ensconced himself behind city walls for many years, hatin
Apollon Apollonovich Ableukhov ensconced himself behind city walls for many years, hatin
But he died.
But he died.
But he died.
And Apollon Apollonovich was utterly alone. Behind him the ages stretched into immeasura
And Apollon Apollonovich was utterly alone. Behind him the ages stretched into immeasura
And Apollon Apollonovich was utterly alone. Behind him the ages stretched into immeasura
Oh, Rus’, Rus’!
Oh, Rus’, Rus’!
Oh, Rus’, Rus’!
Is it you who have set the winds, storms and snows howling across the steppe? It seemed to the
Is it you who have set the winds, storms and snows howling across the steppe? It seemed to the
Is it you who have set the winds, storms and snows howling across the steppe? It seemed to the
156
This agoraphobic fear of Asia reaches fever pitch in a nightmare vision of his revolut
This agoraphobic fear of Asia reaches fever pitch in a nightmare vision of his revolut
This agoraphobic fear of Asia reaches fever pitch in a nightmare vision of his revolut
Nikolai Apollonovich was a depraved monster… he was in China, and there Apollon Apollono
Nikolai Apollonovich was a depraved monster… he was in China, and there Apollon Apollono
Nikolai Apollonovich was a depraved monster… he was in China, and there Apollon Apollono
157
The thunder of those chargers from the steppe was the approaching sound of 1917. For in the
The thunder of those chargers from the steppe was the approaching sound of 1917. For in the
The thunder of those chargers from the steppe was the approaching sound of 1917. For in the
Among the scattered emigres who fled Soviet Russia was a group of intellectuals known as
Among the scattered emigres who fled Soviet Russia was a group of intellectuals known as
Among the scattered emigres who fled Soviet Russia was a group of intellectuals known as
The founding manifesto of the movement was Exodus to the East, a collection of ten essay
The founding manifesto of the movement was Exodus to the East, a collection of ten essay
The founding manifesto of the movement was Exodus to the East, a collection of ten essay
Exodus to the East,
civilization led by Russia or Eurasia. At root, argued Trubetskoi, the author the most impo
civilization led by Russia or Eurasia. At root, argued Trubetskoi, the author the most impo
civilization led by Russia or Eurasia. At root, argued Trubetskoi, the author the most impo
had shaped the Russian state and its high culture, barely penetrated to the lower strata
had shaped the Russian state and its high culture, barely penetrated to the lower strata
had shaped the Russian state and its high culture, barely penetrated to the lower strata
Trubetskoi drew on Russian geography, where the Eurasianist idea had a long pedigree. In th
Trubetskoi drew on Russian geography, where the Eurasianist idea had a long pedigree. In th
Trubetskoi drew on Russian geography, where the Eurasianist idea had a long pedigree. In th
In his essay ‘On the Higher and Lower Strata of Russian Culture’ (1921), Trubetskoi set ou
In his essay ‘On the Higher and Lower Strata of Russian Culture’ (1921), Trubetskoi set ou
In his essay ‘On the Higher and Lower Strata of Russian Culture’ (1921), Trubetskoi set ou
importance placed on keeping the head still and on subtle doll-like movements by the rest of
importance placed on keeping the head still and on subtle doll-like movements by the rest of
importance placed on keeping the head still and on subtle doll-like movements by the rest of
‘udal’
158
Such ideas had little in the way of ethnographic evidence to support them. They were all po
Such ideas had little in the way of ethnographic evidence to support them. They were all po
Such ideas had little in the way of ethnographic evidence to support them. They were all po
The Peasant Wedding,
159
(nepodvizhnost
The Peasant Wedding
The Rite of Spring
pattern, with variations on the melody, rather than by contrasts of musical ideas, as in th
pattern, with variations on the melody, rather than by contrasts of musical ideas, as in th
pattern, with variations on the melody, rather than by contrasts of musical ideas, as in th
7
7
7
7
7
’In their primitive habitat I found something truly wonderful for the first time in my l
’In their primitive habitat I found something truly wonderful for the first time in my l
’In their primitive habitat I found something truly wonderful for the first time in my l
160
The link between the ‘primitive’ and modern abstract art is not unique to the Russian avan
The link between the ‘primitive’ and modern abstract art is not unique to the Russian avan
The link between the ‘primitive’ and modern abstract art is not unique to the Russian avan
The Russian Primitivists (Malevich and Kandinsky, Chagall, Gon-charova, Larionov and Bu
The Russian Primitivists (Malevich and Kandinsky, Chagall, Gon-charova, Larionov and Bu
The Russian Primitivists (Malevich and Kandinsky, Chagall, Gon-charova, Larionov and Bu
161
Haycutting
is a profoundly national phenomenon’, wrote the painter Shevchenko. ‘Russia and the Eas
is a profoundly national phenomenon’, wrote the painter Shevchenko. ‘Russia and the Eas
is a profoundly national phenomenon’, wrote the painter Shevchenko. ‘Russia and the Eas
162
Kandinsky himself was a great admirer of Persian art and equated its ideals of simplicity
Kandinsky himself was a great admirer of Persian art and equated its ideals of simplicity
Kandinsky himself was a great admirer of Persian art and equated its ideals of simplicity
163
The Blue Rider
The Blue Rider
1917). This search for synthesis was the key theme in Kandinsky’s early (so-called ‘Russian’)
1917). This search for synthesis was the key theme in Kandinsky’s early (so-called ‘Russian’)
1917). This search for synthesis was the key theme in Kandinsky’s early (so-called ‘Russian’)
Motley Life
small log structure in the upper right-hand corner of the canvas, just below the hilltop mon
small log structure in the upper right-hand corner of the canvas, just below the hilltop mon
small log structure in the upper right-hand corner of the canvas, just below the hilltop mon
Motley
Life, underneath the surface there is a collision of diverse beliefs. The red squirre
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