Vladimir Paperny Analyzes Russian Architecture's Dualistic Tensions Between Ornament and Asceticism

In his 1999 essay, Vladimir Paperny examines the dualistic nature of Russian architecture, highlighting a "bulimic" desire for ornamentation contrasted with an "anorexic" aversion to physicality. This dichotomy is illustrated through key historical moments: the 10th-century conversion of Prince Vladimir, influenced by the grandeur of Byzantine art, and 19th-century critic Evgenii Trubetskoi's criticism of Rubens's sensuality in favor of traditional Russian icons. The 1551 Synod imposed restrictions on artistic expression. Architectural references include the 16th-century Cathedral of the Intercession, Alexander Vitberg's unexecuted 1817 design for the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and Vladimir Tatlin's 1932 Monument to the Third International. Built in 1883 by Konstantin Ton, the Cathedral was torn down in the 1930s for a never-realized Palace of Soviets. Post-1990s architecture signifies a withdrawal from professionalism, reflecting cultural anxieties and themes of self-punishment.