Why Russian are so interested in Bruegel?

Pieter Bruegel Art Talk by Christina Currie - presented by the In Artibus Foundation and BRAFA

BRAFA Art Fair
Nov 22, 2018
On October 26th, 2018,  Bruegel expert Dr. Christina Currie, Head of Scientific Imagery at KIK-IRPA, lectured on 'Pieter Bruegel and his artistic progeny' at the In Artibus Foundation in Moscow. Russian collectors, art experts and museum curators thoroughly enjoyed Mrs Currie's lecture, revealing the secrets behind the successful Bruegel dynasty...

The BRAFA organisation would like to thank Dr. Christina Currie and the KIK-IRPA, the In Artibus Foundation and its founder Inna Bazhenova, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Moscow, VISIT FLANDERS and BRAFA's representative in Russia Ekaterina Limonad for their support.

BRAFA is one of the leading European art and antiques fairs. Here, all art works on show are for sale and quality and authenticity are two of the key requirements exhibitors face. BRAFA is an eclectic fair which encompasses a variety of specialities, from antiquity to the 21st century...

BRAFA 2019 opens from 26 January - 3 February at Tour & Taxis, in Brussels, Belgium.

Learn more on the international BRAFA Art Fair and the BRAFA Art Talks at www.brafa.art

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26 октября в Москве, в фонде in artibus по инициативе и при поддержке международной арт-ярмарки BRAFA состоялась лекция ведущего мирового эксперта по фламандскому искусству д-ра Кристины Карри. Российские коллекционеры, арт-эксперты и сотрудники музеев насладились актуальной лекцией миссис Карри о сложных творческих взаимосвязях в семействе Брейгелей.

Событие — результат замечательного сотрудничества между фондом in artibus в лице Инны Баженовой и Брюссельской ярмаркой искусства BRAFA в лице ее представителя в России Екатерины де Рошамбо-Лимонад при поддержке Посольства Королевства Бельгия в Москве и Офиса по туризму Фландрии VISITFLANDERS .
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Why Russian are so interested in Bruegel?

The interest of Russians in the art of Pieter Bruegel the Elder is multifaceted, stemming from various cultural, historical, and artistic connections. Here's a breakdown of the key reasons:

1. Influence on Russian Culture and Film:

Andrei Tarkovsky: The renowned Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky was deeply inspired by Bruegel's work. He famously referenced Bruegel's paintings in his films, such as "Solaris" (1972) and "Mirror" (1975). This has helped to popularize Bruegel's art within Russian cinema and intellectual circles.


2. Art Patronage and Collections:

Historical Acquisition: Even as far back as the early 18th century, Peter the Great, the first Russian emperor, was known to have acquired works by Old Masters like Bruegel during his travels in Europe. This laid the groundwork for a tradition of collecting European art in Russia.

Private Collections: In more recent times, Russian private collectors, such as Konstantin Mauergauz, have amassed significant collections of works by the Bruegel family and their contemporaries. These collections have been a key source for exhibitions in Russia, making the art accessible to a wider audience.

3. Exhibitions and Public Access:

Major Exhibitions: Museums in Russia have hosted exhibitions dedicated to the Bruegel dynasty, showcasing paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Jan Brueghel the Elder, as well as other Flemish and Dutch artists.

Reproductions: Even in the absence of original paintings by Bruegel the Elder in Russia, institutions like the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research have held exhibitions of high-quality reproductions to commemorate the artist's legacy and celebrate his 500th anniversary. This demonstrates a strong and enduring public interest in his work.

4. Artistic and Ideological Connections:

"Peasant Bruegel": In the early Soviet period, Bruegel's art was interpreted through a Marxist lens. His focus on the everyday lives of peasants resonated with the official ideology of social realism. Art historians, like Mikhail Alpatov, wrote about "Peasant Bruegel," viewing his work as a celebration of the common person and a reflection of the "spirit of the time."

Realism and Social Commentary: Bruegel's detailed and often moralizing depictions of peasant life, human folly, and social order align with the long-standing tradition of realism and social commentary in Russian art and literature. His ability to capture the universal human condition within a specific, detailed landscape is a theme that has historically appealed to Russian artists and intellectuals.

In summary, the Russian interest in Bruegel is a combination of his direct influence on key cultural figures, the tradition of art collecting, and a thematic resonance with Russian artistic and ideological sensibilities.