On August 28, 2025, the scientific and educational forum “Russia and France: Dialog of (Visual) Cultures” started at Samara University, organized by the E.M. Primakov Center with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation.
At the official opening of the Forum, Doctor of Law, Professor, and Vice-Rector of Samara University, Viktoria Vladimirovna Bolgova, spoke, emphasizing the importance of intercultural exchange and joint projects that contribute to the development of art and culture in both countries.
Maria Sergeevna Poshekhonova, Deputy Director for Science at the Samara Regional Universal Scientific Library, highlighted the significance of preserving cultural heritage and the importance of developing scientific and educational initiatives.
Nailya Faridovna Tagirova, a scientific editor at the Samara Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary dialog and cooperation in the field of historical research.
The research section of the Forum began with a report by Tatyana Eduardovna Mozhenok-Ninen, Doctor of Art History, member of the Association of Art Historians (AIS), member of the Society for the History of French Art (SHAF), expert of the Vasily Polenov Association (Paris, France), author of numerous articles and four monographs on 19th-century Russian artists in France, who connected live from France. T. E. Mozhenok-Ninie gave a presentation dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the legacy of famous Russian artists A. P. Bogolyubov, I. E. Repin, and V. D. Polenov in France.
Anna Nikolaevna Kask, Senior Curator of the Visual Information Department at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, and Candidate of Art History, shared the results of her research on the peculiarities of painting perception and its reproduction in French publications from the late 19th century. Her work helps us better understand the specifics of representing artistic works in the era of the mass distribution of illustrated publications.
Natalia Alexandrovna Mozokhina, a researcher in the documentary collections sector of the State Museum-Reserve “Gatchina” and a candidate of art history, shed light on the success story of Russian publisher Ilya Lapin, who managed to gain recognition in Parisian literary circles. The biography she told is a striking example of cultural cooperation and the integration of Russian cultural figures into European space.
Olga Nikolaevna Ansberg, a candidate of historical sciences and an independent researcher from St. Petersburg, presented her research on archival materials, introducing the audience to the work of the French cartoonist Paul Robert, who captured everyday scenes of actors from the French troupe of the imperial theaters in St. Petersburg in the early 20th century. His sketches help recreate the atmosphere of theatrical life in that era.
Associate Professor Elena Sergeevna Sonina, Candidate of Philological Sciences at Saint Petersburg State University, analyzed the typical stereotypes formed by the French satirical press regarding Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The study provides insight into how our country was perceived by Western European society at that time.
Associate Professor Elena Yuryevna Gordeeva, Candidate of Philological Sciences at Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, examined the reflection of French culture and literature in pre-revolutionary publications of Nizhny Novgorod. The presentation allowed us to trace the process of forming regional perceptions of Western culture and literature.
Elena Feliksovna Lyubomirova, a senior specialist at the archive of the European University at St. Petersburg, explored the topic of the contacts of the renowned Russian scholar Eleazar Meletinsky with representatives of the French intellectual elite of the mid-20th century. Documents from a personal archive allowed for the creation of a vivid picture of intercultural scientific connections.
Associate Professor of Samara University, Candidate of Historical Sciences Yulia Aleksandrovna Zherdeva presented a new interpretation of the life and work of Mikhail Le-Dantiu – a mysterious representative of the Russian avant-garde whose creative work became a bridge between the cultures of Russia and France.
We thank our respected colleagues for their contribution to the development of science and hope for the continuation of productive cooperation and further expansion of the boundaries of understanding the historical context of relations between Russia and France!
The recording of the broadcast is available at the link.
Photo: Alexander Zaitsev | V.A. Kakovkin Media “Illuminator”.
