Seaside 1956

“Seaside” by Boris Nicolaevich Ermolaev offers a glimpse into leisure and public life, though the exact date of its creation remains unconfirmed. Ermolaev’s life spanned much of the 20th century, a period of immense political and social upheaval in Russia and beyond. While seemingly a tranquil depiction of a day at the beach, the work is charged with the politics of representation and the negotiation of identity. The figures appear at leisure on the seaside but what are their stories? What freedoms do they have? The flags and pristine garden give this seaside a cultivated feel, but perhaps it feels exclusionary. The bright colours, and seemingly joyful scene, provoke a feeling of yearning. Ermolaev’s work invites us to consider who has access to leisure and under what conditions it is enjoyed. It remains a powerful reflection on the interplay of identity, environment, and societal structures.