Gorky vs. Vrubel (ekphrasis of decorative panels by M. Vrubel in “Cursory Notes” by M. Gorky)

Primochkina Natalia N.,

Doctor of Philology, Chief Researcher

Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences

e-mail: nprim47@yandex.ru

The article analyzes the ekphrasis, the verbal description of decorative panels by M.А. Vrubel in the series of articles by M. Gorky “Cursory Notes”, covering the events of the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition held in 1896 in Nizhny Novgorod. Gorky’s separate correspondence from this exhibition, devoted to the numerous examples of modern painting presented at it, represent his pen test in the field of art criticism, in the analysis of works of fine art. Special attention is paid to the fierce controversy that was caused in the provincial and metropolitan press by the speeches of the young Gorky against the artist Vrubel, who was appreciated in narrow artistic circles, but not recognized by official criticism. It is shown that in his mature years, the writer, although Vrubel did not become a close, kindred artist, still recognized his “great strength” and pedagogical “benefit”.

Keywords: M. Gorky, M.A. Vrubel, A.A. Karelin, polemic, art criticism, ekphrasis, decadence, symbolism

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