No nation on earth has one absolute, primordial symbol. The colour red, however, has always been favoured by all nations. Red, as a concept and word combination became both and audible and and visual image in Russia, particularly so at the start of the twentieth century. Russians identified the colour red with physical phenomena and actions. Colour images crossed over into the realms of concrete objects (red carpet); the Russian word 'krasny' lost it's original meaning 'beautiful' and came to be applied purely to the colour red, which in turn crossed over to geographical names (Krasnaya Polyana, Krasnoye Selo). People grew accustomed to the colour red and it entered the public conciousness. And no matter what the future course of Russian history, red will forever remain its principal emotional charge, carrying the potential of all that is solemn, warm and jubilant. This volume is a celebration of the colour red in Russian art. Red betrays a wealth of meanings. It has also been simply a patch of bright colour with which to depict objects. The colour red has enjoyed special significance in the works of talented artists of all time.
It expresses happiness and joy, grief and sorrow, tragedy and elation.
