Collage 333

Moscow, by contrast, is authentic. "For him [Pierre] Moscow was comfortable, warm, habitual, and dirty, like an old dressing gown." Moscow doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. It may be worn out and fusty, but it authentic and happy to be what it is. And Pierre is much happier. "... here he was - the rich husband of an unfaithful wife, a retired gentleman-in-waiting, who liked to eat, drink, and, unbuttoning himself, to denounce the government a little, a member of the Moscow English Club, and a universally beloved member of Moscow society."

This collage is obviously rather derivative, but to my knowledge M never pasted old pages of War and Peace into his paintings. I like it enough to use it as wallpaper on my cellphone. -- Otto

Otto Mayr
from page 673-674 of original text
collage, acrylic paint, ink
made 2/8/11
page 536-538 Pevear/Volokhonsky translation