The Return of the Prodigal Son 2006 paper, mixed media 235×605
The Return of the Prodigal Son really depicts the artist's own home as he sees it. Its architecture is characterized by familiar to the author dark red ("sanguine") tiles and concrete frame of tower block 1616 in Zelenograd, growing into cupola and bell turret inspired by the old Russian architecture. They adjoin the romantic towers of the feudal castle and other West-European buildings crowned by the town clock. Its slow and frightful chime is the only ruler, according to E. Verhaeren. The portico columns are designed in the form of autumn mushrooms. The dome drum incorporates a fireplace with the ever-burning fire. The high armchair drawn to the fireplace is waiting for the prodigal son, who is strolling along the boulevard under the street lamps on his way home. "Cold, dark, damp autumn evenings - they must be damp", as it is said by the character of one of F. M. Dostoevsky's novels. One may notice the development of autumn from bloom to the wane from the bottom towards the top of the picture. Snow on the cross of the church is the First snow, covering the frozen black earth.
