Two tastes in one 1908

Editor: This is David Burliuk’s “Two Tastes in One” from 1908, created with oil paint. The two headed nude woman, with theatre masks…it’s certainly provocative. It feels like Burliuk is challenging something. What are your initial thoughts on this piece? Curator: Burliuk was indeed a provocateur. Considering the socio-political context of pre-revolutionary Russia, particularly the avant-garde movements, the artwork stands as a direct challenge to traditional academic art and societal norms. How do you interpret the "two tastes"? Is it a duality of beauty, perhaps? Or something darker? Editor: That’s a good question. I originally read it as a kind of internal conflict within a single figure but I could see beauty and darkness. The masks… do they represent superficiality, maybe hiding true identities? Curator: Precisely. Masks, allegories and symbols in early 20th-century art often functioned as critical tools. Think of how societal pressures, expectations, and performances can mask the genuine self. This artwork could be Burliuk's way of commenting on the public versus private selves prevalent in his time, an era grappling with massive social and political changes. Does this public/private reading change how you perceive the piece? Editor: Yes, that adds a whole new layer. I’d been so focused on the individual in conflict. But I think thinking about the piece reflecting social norms or commenting on Russia helps clarify his message. It is an interesting insight. Curator: It reveals the power art has in shaping cultural dialogue. Next time you view art, try looking for it in history. Editor: Definitely will! Thanks, this has really expanded how I see it.