Russian Portraits

An artist’s diary of a visit to Moscow that combines accounts of portrait sittings of prominent revolutionary figures with observant travel notes and conversations with Soviet officials. The narrative records the practicalities of sculpting likenesses, encounters with local leaders, impressions of daily life and institutions, and discussions about cultural policy, education, and social reforms. Interspersed with sketches and photographs, the account balances aesthetic reflection on art and technique with candid observations of the city’s people, public ceremonies, architecture, and the atmosphere of a society in transition.