Mihail Vrubel: Joutsenprinsessa, 1900 © State Tretjakov Gallery

This exhibition takes us straight into the world of Russian fairy tales. Folk tales and their characters have provided inspiration for Russian artists, composers and playwrights. They are part of the living tradition known and loved by all Russians.

The title of the show reflects the universal dualism of fairy tales: good and evil, fire and water, joy and sorrow, hot Firebird and icy Snow Maiden. The exhibition brings the stories and fairy tales to life through classic Russian paintings. Mikhail Vrubel’s The Swan Princess, Viktor Vasnetsov’s The Snow Maiden and Alyonushka are joined by the illustrations of Bilibin and the theatrical sketches of Natalia Goncharova and Mikhail Larionov. Consisting of 152 works of art by 33 artists, the exhibition spans a period from the 1870s to the 1930s, from romanticism and realism to avant-gardism and the early days of the Soviet Union.

The theme of the show is the mysterious magic of fairy tales, which has fascinated humanity throughout the ages. In addition to painting and sculpture, the fairy tales made their way to opera and drama, and through animated films onto the silver screen.

This is the fourth exhibition produced jointly by the Helsinki Art Museum and the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Vasili Kandinski: Kanteleensoittaja / The Psaltery Player, 1907 © ADAGP

Ivan Bilibin: Satu tsaarinpoika Ivanista, Tulilinnusta ja Harmaasta Sudesta. Tsaarinpoika Ivan repii sulan Tulilinnun pyrstöstä / The Tale about Prince Ivan, the Firebird and the Grey Wolf. Prince Ivan pulls a feather out of the Firebird`s tail, 1899 © Goznak