Collage 290

After dinner Natasha, at Prince Andrei's request went to the clavichord and began to sing. Prince Andrei stood by the window, talking with the ladies, and listened to her. In the middle of a phrase, Prince Andrei fell silent and suddenly felt choked with tears, which he did not know was possible for him. He looked at the singing Natasha and something new and happy occurred in his soul. He was happy, but at the same time he felt sad. He had decidedly nothing to weep about, but was ready to weep. About what? His former love? The little princess? His disappointments?...His hopes for the future? ... Yes and no. The main thing he wanted to weep about was a sudden, vivid awareness of the terrible opposition between something infinitely great and indefinable that was in him, and something narrow and fleshly that he hiself, and even she, was. This opposition tormented him and gladdened him while she sang. - p.467 in P/V

Lynn Waskelis
from page 587-588 of original text
collage, wax, acrylic paint
made 10/29/10
page 466-468 Pevear/Volokhonsky translation