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Welcome home Peggy!
Your experience in Russia is a good reminder of the need to look beyond our own style of painting and understand the many factors that contribute to the manner and style of painting that develops over time depending on many factors that somehow drive the form and style of art.
It's a reminder that painting styles other than classic realism does not equal incompetence. It also makes the understanding and appreciation of art more enjoyable. Your comments about knowing the subjects/artists hits home. I don't know whether non artists are capable of the same reactions but I often experience a strong kinship with artists of the past and I too have a feeling that I am somehow connecting and know what they were attempting to pass on to me.
We are all part of a past, influenced by the present, and hopefully creating things that will touch our descendents. It's also a reminder that I should strive to make a good painting aside from the attempt to get a good likeness.
Twice while doing business in that part of the world I had to abort plans to take a side visit to Amsterdam. Your visit is a sad reminder.
I also share your enthusiasm for the Russian painters and include Nikolai Fechin among my favorite. There is a book titled Socialist Realist Painting by Matthew Cullerne Bown that you may wish to study.
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