Bolshaya Sadovaya. Pink House. 1931

Pyotr Konchalovsky painted "Bolshaya Sadovaya. Pink House" with oil on canvas, but the exact date is unknown. The scene depicts a snow-covered street in Moscow, likely capturing a moment in the post-revolutionary period. Konchalovsky, a member of the Jack of Diamonds group, was at the forefront of avant-garde art in Russia, but here we see a relatively traditional style. The choice of a street scene, though, does reflect a broader trend in early 20th century art to capture the everyday life of the modern city. The pink building is most likely the one where Bulgakov lived, and is now the Bulgakov Museum. Understanding this painting requires a dive into the social and artistic context of early 20th-century Russia. The archives of the Russian avant-garde, the records of artistic societies, and biographical research into Konchalovsky's life can offer a more complete picture. Only by considering these layers can we understand the painting's place within the sweep of cultural history.