Joining Kazan to Russia. Allegory 1913

Boris Kustodiev made this allegorical painting, Joining Kazan to Russia, using oil paints and a circular canvas. Imagine him wrestling with this scene—the reds swirling, figures emerging from the dark, a crown suspended in the air above a mass of bodies and horses. I picture Kustodiev layering the paint, trying to capture this grandiose historical moment, maybe feeling a bit overwhelmed himself. Look at the way he’s built up the texture, especially in the chaotic mass of soldiers and the billowing clouds. There is a sense of movement and energy, but also a feeling of constraint within that circular frame. The red is so intense, it almost vibrates against the darkness, creating a sense of drama and tension. It reminds me a bit of Delacroix, but with a uniquely Russian sensibility. It's like Kustodiev is having a conversation with history, with painting itself, grappling with how to represent power, conflict, and the weight of the past. That conversation stretches across time, connecting artists through their shared struggles and triumphs.