Botany 2010

Andrey Remnev painted "Botany" in oil using a style reminiscent of Renaissance portraiture, but with a surreal modern twist. This pushes us to ask: What is the relationship between a person and the natural world they inhabit? The painting blends visual codes from different periods. The vertical red and green stripes evoke traditional Russian folk patterns, while the woman's dress and hairstyle suggest a 16th-century portrait. Her direct gaze engages the viewer, yet the onion obscures her face, creating a sense of mystery. It could be a commentary on the artificiality of portraiture, where the sitter is often presented in a carefully constructed way. The onion might represent truth, which is hidden or obscured. As historians, we can look at the ways Remnev engages with the history of art and symbolism. Research into Russian folk art, Renaissance portraiture, and the symbolism of plants can give us greater insight into the social and cultural context of this work.