Culver City,
California
x
Maker: Unknown
A Little Body Often Harbors a Great Soul
Date Made: n.d.
Country: Soviet Union
Measurements: 90 cm x 60 cm; 35 7/16 in x 23 5/8 in
This painting shows a Russian matryoshka doll with one piece removed, thus presenting both the outer face of the doll and the face and body of the next smallest doll who is winking at the viewer and hoisting up her dress to show her garter belt holding money. The Russian text across the top of the composition reads, “A Little Body Often Harbors a Great Soul.” This solemn proverb in relation to the image of the inside doll from the children’s toy creates a striking contrast between the text and the image; the “little body” in this case is not harboring a great soul, but is concealing a prostitute. The artwork, made in 1993 after the disintigration of the Soviet Union, could refer to Russia’s efforts to succeed in the world as a single entity: Russia did not wield as much power and influence as before, and while the proverb implies that this does not diminish Russia’s greatness, the doll shows that the reality is much darker.
Accession Number: 2009.053.224
Item Name: Painting
Credit Line: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris
Collection/Series: The Ferris Russian Collection, Donated by Tom and Jeri Ferris