Sketch 1917

Here we see a sketch by Boris Kustodiev. At first glance, it portrays a poised woman, yet look closer. Floating beside her is a pair of feet in elegant heels. This juxtaposition of the grounded and the ethereal, the real and the fantastical, speaks to a deeper tension within the collective psyche. Footwear, historically, goes beyond mere utility. Think of Cinderella's slipper, a symbol of transformation and destiny. Here, the floating shoes might represent aspirations, dreams, or perhaps a suppressed desire for freedom, separate from the woman. Such imagery evokes the ancient Greek concept of the "pothos," an aching longing for something just out of reach. Kustodiev taps into this universal emotion, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in our historical context.