Lunch at Troyekurov 1919

Boris Kustodiev drew ‘Lunch at Troyekurov’ with ink on paper to create this line drawing of a crowded dining hall. I can just imagine Kustodiev’s pen scratching away, each stroke building up this bustling scene. Look at the chandeliers, almost trembling with light, and the long table groaning under the weight of food and gossip. Kustodiev seems like he is standing back, taking in this grand interior and long table, and then, he is bringing all that movement onto the page with a flurry of lines. The servants carrying trays, the guests chattering away – it’s like a snapshot of Russian high society frozen in time. I wonder if Kustodiev ever imagined his drawing would still be making us think about fancy lunch dates hundreds of years later. It’s fun to see how these artists from way back when are still part of our conversations today, adding their own flavor to the mix.