Mental Arithmetic. In the Public School of S.Rachinsky 1895

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky painted "Mental Arithmetic" to show a scene of children learning in a Russian public school. The chalkboard is a focal point, covered with equations, a symbol of knowledge. But observe the poses and expressions of the children, each a rich symbol of thought, anxiety, and understanding. Consider the boy in the foreground, his arms crossed and head bowed, a gesture reminiscent of melancholic figures throughout art history, from Dürer's "Melancholia I" to Rodin's "The Thinker." This pose transcends its immediate context, becoming a universal expression of introspection and intellectual struggle. The act of contemplation, depicted here, engages viewers on a subconscious level. The teacher, with an attentive posture, watches his students. The contrast between the traditional clothing and the intellectual pursuit creates a tension that speaks volumes about the era's societal changes. Such imagery resurfaces and evolves across different times, reflecting our collective journey to comprehend and convey complex ideas through visual symbols.