April

“April” is one of the most significant Moscow landscapes by Vitaly Vlasov-Klimov, which brought fame to the artist. In this picture he creates a romantic and nostalgic image of Moscow in the 1960s. In this painting the artist depicts the city center, near the exit from Kropotkinskaya metro station at the intersection of Gogolevsky Boulevard , Prechistenka and Ostozhenka (Kropotkinskaya and Metrostroyevskaya streets at that time). It is noteworthy that in the picture there is no monument to Engels. This was installed in the square of Prechistenskie gate later, in 1976. The artist carefully details his reminiscences of the past in an attempt to portray Moscow of that epoch as authentically as possible – an uncrowded city without intense traffic and crowds of people hurrying; the city, as it is now remembered only by its older citizens. Among the signs of the times so carefully recreated by the artist, the eye is immediately drawn to the ladies outfits, posters advertising upcoming shows, an ice-cream vendor and a street trading selling weights.