Pyatnitskie Gate in Kolomna

The artist's work is indelibly associated with Kolomna. Pyatnitsky Gate is the main tower of Kolomna’s Kremlin, built in the 16th century. It takes its name from Saint Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, the patron saint of trade. For the artist, it is not just an architectural monument – it is one of his favorite places in his hometown. As in his other works, here the artist creates the sense of a single frame, introducing the viewer to his vision of the environment, which he knew since childhood. Abakumov first graduated as a cinematographer, and the silver screen’s influence on his painting can be seen in the careful elaboration of every plane of the picture. In the foreground we see a powerful and beautiful but decaying architectural structure while behind this the everyday life of a provincial town goes its unhurried way.