RUSSIAN CLASSICS AESTHETICS
BOLD whatever applies to / attracts your muse.
BROTHERS KARAMAZOV : orthodox monasteries , deep woods , STARRY NIGHTS, the sound of paper being torn , DIMLY LIT ROOMS , withered roses , an unfinished letter , PILES OF BOOKS , THE SOUND OF SHATTERING GLASS , TICKING OF CLOCKS IN A SILENT HOUSE , HEAVY WOODEN FURNITURE , THE AIR BEFORE A STORM , THE SMELL OF EARTH , a crowd of people dressed in black , distant murmurs , emptied streets , the fear of walking alone in dusk.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT : COLDNESS OF THE SKIN AGAINST A BLADE , slender pale fingers & slightly shaking hands , A RED STAIN BLOOMING ON WHITE FABRIC , LONELY STEPS IN A CORRIDOR , the slow dripping of water , LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW INTO THE THICKENING DARKNESS , A SINGLE DYING CANDLE ON THE TABLE , LISTENING TO ONE’S BREATH & COUNTING HEARTBEATS , too many stairs , the desire to be invisible , A SUBTLE MEMORY OF KIND WORD.
THE IDIOT : CLASSICAL STATUES , WEALTH COVERED WITH DUST , A DARK HOUSE TAINTED WITH INHERITED MADNESS , AN UNSETTLING FEELING , LONG WALKS IN A PARK , useless chatter , a silken ribbon forgotten on a bench , a melancholic face , an unexpected spring rain , THE JOY OF READING ONE’S FAVORITE BOOK , THE CLARITY OF MIND AFTER FULLY PERCEIVING THE WORLD AROUND , LOOKING AT CLOUDLESS SKY.
ANNA KARENINA : fields of crops , flowers brought from an early morning walk , the wind caressing a girl’s hair , A BOWL OF FRUIT , THE SMELL OF RIPE PEARS , THE CLATTER OF A SPOON AGAINST PORCELAIN WHEN STIRRING TEA , children’s laughter coming from the garden , SOFT SUNLIGHT & WHITE CURTAINS , THE SENSATION OF VELVET AGAINST SKIN , PEARLS FROM A RIPPED NECKLACE SPILLING ON MARBLE FLOOR , A SUDDEN SILENCE IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE.
WAR AND PEACE : A GLASS OF WINE , THE BRIGHTNESS OF A CRYSTAL CHANDELIER , white lace , A RAGING SNOW STORM , THE SOUND OF A DOOR BEING GENTLY CLOSED , the moment of holding one’s breath before walking in a ballroom , indulging in looking at a beautiful earring against light , closing one’s eyes for a moment while dancing , THE SWEET SMELL OF STRAWBERRIES , A PAIR OF GLOVES LEFT ON AN ARMCHAIR , light scent of powder.
THE MASTER AND MARGARITA : THE CHAOS OF A LIVELY CITY , AMBIENT JAZZ IN EXPENSIVE RESTAURANTS , jumping on a moving tram , THE SIGHT OF MOSCOW FROM THE ROOF OF A HOUSE , YELLOW FLOWERS IN A VASE , LEANING OUT OF THE WINDOW , SHELVES STACKED WITH BOOKS , a small tin box with old photographs , STRANGE SHAPES IN THE NIGHT SKY , LAUGHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A BALCONY , colorful posters for a surreptitious magician’s show floating in the wind.
EUGENE ONEGIN : A LONELY MANSION , reading a book in the parlor , FAINT PIANO MELODY LINGERING IN FALLING SILENCE , LONG EVENINGS , PASSING SEASONS , DISCUSSING FRENCH NOVELS OF THE MOMENT , UNSPOKEN THOUGHTS , LEANING AGAINST THE DOOR FRAME , QUICKLY AVERTED GLANCE , eating a peach absent-minded , bright mornings , FOOTPRINTS IN SNOW , A LOUD GUNSHOT TERRIFYING A FLOCK OF BIRDS NEARBY.
FATHERS AND SONS : birch groves , MORNING MIST , MOSS-COVERED STONES NEAR A MOOR , SCIENTIFIC BOOKS , WHITE ROSES , CHEAP CHAMPAGNE , SHABBY POCKET-WATCH , LIGHT-HEARTED IRONY , A MALADROIT CELLO SONATA , FRESHLY MOWED GRASS , lEAVING THOUGHTS COME & GO , a slow yawn , PICTURESQUE PLATES & BOWLS FILLED WITH TRADITIONAL DISHES , DRINKING TEA ON THE PORCH.
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO : A STRANGE FEELING OF LOSS , WRITING POEMS IN A DIARY , TRAVELING BY TRAIN , the hesitation before touching someone’s hand , THE GAZE OF ONE LOST IN THOUGHT , THE WARMTH OF CINNAMON , a scarf brightly embellished with flowers , A GLASS OF WATER , A THREADBARE JACKET , THE TEMPTING VOID , THE EVANESCENT SERENITY OF YESTERDAY.
CHERRY ORCHARD : A LONE CHAIR IN AN EMPTY ROOM , falling blossoms , OLD SAMOVAR , THE UNSETTLING NEED FOR CHANGE , A MIRROR REFLECTING FULL MOON , the disappointment of a glossy object turning worthless after second glance , A PIANO OUT OF TUNE.
