Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom in a Glass, 1932

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin

Taken from Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932, a brilliant (if horribly overcrowded) exhibition at the Royal Academy. So much to see, and in my case, learn. Petrov-Vodkin's ancestors were bandits, and according to local legend his surname derives from homemade vodka produced by his grandmother... what's not to love?

Ends 17th April

Close and Far, Calvert 22

I made the trip to Calvert 22 gallery last weekend to see an exhibition of Russian photography. The show aims to examine Russia's evolution over the past 100 years by comparing the way various Russian photographers have approached their subject.

Pastoral, 2008-12
Alexander Gronsky

Anna Alexeevna, 2010

Olya Ivanova

The stand out work for me was that of Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky, who sounds like he had a pretty great time taking pictures of the length and breadth of the Russian empire after being commissioned by the last Tsar, Nicholas II, to do so.

Dinner During Hay Making, 1909

Peasant Girls, 1909

 Prokudin-Gorsky was a pioneer of colour photography. After inventing his own means of developing film, he did so while on the move in a specially equipped rail road coach complete with darkroom. Travelling far and wide, the pictures that emerged from this mobile darkroom show a multi-faceted Russia and are fascinating to look at.

Group of Harvesters, 1905-15

The exhibition is free and on until 17th August, see it if you can.

Russia 1975

Jerry Hall, Norman Parkinson and protégée Grace Coddington for Russian Vogue.

 

Dolce & Gabbana

I love it all....

The models remind me of the little Russian dolls we used to have on our matlepiece at home. And also very slightly of Natassja Kinski, here.