The Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts is also located on Vasilyevsky Island. It is indeed very close and can be reached on foot in only ten minutes.
After it was renamed the Repin Academy of Fine Arts in later generations, it has become one of the four major art academies in the world. However, art is too expensive to learn. Even if tuition fees in Russia are already very low, ordinary families cannot afford it.
Moreover, Li Yu's art level is only that he learned watercolor brushes and sketching in elementary school art class, and he really doesn't know much about art.
But just like science, the separation between the various disciplines today is far less than that of later generations. Some artists are able to wear multiple abilities and cover a wide range of fields.
Those who are engaged in literature also want to learn art, those who are engaged in art also want to play engineering design, and those who are engaged in music also want to learn quantum mechanics... And art itself is very attractive, so apart from artists, there are not a few people who like it.
As a great Russian writer, Tolstoy has many fans, and Repin himself is one of Tolstoy's fans.
Later generations can see many portraits of Toon, many of which were painted by Repin. Repin painted a total of twelve portraits, twenty-five sketches, eight sketches of family members, seventeen illustrations of the writer's works, and three plaster statues of Tolstoy.
It is completely possible to see Repin's respect and love for Toon. The Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts is mainly a relatively large main building. The overall campus area is not large, so after submitting the request, they quickly found Repin in a studio who was painting for Toon.
Tolstoy is already a classic image of a bearded man, with his wife Sofia next to him. Fortunately, Li Yu came at a good time. Before long, Repin put down his painting brush and wanted to rest for a while.
They noticed Li Yu and others outside the door.
"Are they students?" Repin thought they were students from the Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts. Katz immediately said: "Sorry to bother you, my name is Katz. On behalf of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Letters, I am here to submit a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature to Mr. Tolstoy." Tolstoy was very calm after hearing this: "I know. It's always so painstaking to nominate, but never actually award the award, and it doesn't mean anything." He has already seen this matter. After all, he is a 75-year-old man, and he has experienced different treatment in the last few literary awards. , the value of fame and fortune is no longer that important.
Kaz was a little embarrassed after hearing this: "The selection process is done by the School of Liberal Arts. I don't know what happened." Tolstoy looked at Li Yu who was aside: "Are you... Japanese?" Li Yu I was also a little embarrassed, thinking that I was a little devil.
Li Yu had no choice but to explain: "Tuo Weng, I'm from China."
"China?" Tolstoy has never been to China, but he still has a traditional impression of Chinese people, which are some images of long braids that have appeared in Western comics.
Li Yu continued: "I cut my braids." Kaz also introduced him: "His name is Li Yu, and he is..."
"Ah, I've heard of you!" Repin actually interrupted Kaz.
"You are the scientist who wrote "Star Wars"!" Well, science fiction is indeed more widely spread.
Li Yu smiled and said: "That's right, but it's not just my fault. The polishing part was done by Ms. Bicheng next to me, and the translation of the English and French versions was done by another German from China. Young lady." Repin said to Tolstoy: "Have you read it? That science fiction book is very interesting and the imagination is so amazing. It seems to be written by a top artist." Tolstoy said: "I have read it. Yes, it is indeed a very good read. And I not only know, but also know that you are a top person in the field of science." Li Yu said: "Toon won the prize." They can communicate in English.
As mentioned before, a typical feature of education in Europe today is to know multiple languages. Tolstoy himself can speak at least English, French and German in addition to his mother tongue.
Most Russian aristocratic families speak at least French because they consider French to be a noble language, and many families hire French teachers.
Tolstoy seems to have followed the news a lot. There is no way not to pay attention. After all, some of Li Yu's research results are very influential, such as chaos theory and game theory that have begun to be studied in many industries.
In addition, the King of Sweden personally awarded such a large amount of awards before, and it is still very famous in Europe.
Tolstoy said: "I often read daily, and I have also read a lot of science fiction. It is a work that imagines the future, which is very different from my work that focuses on the present reality. But I think everyone must read science fiction when they read it. It's still more pleasant." Li Yu said with a smile: "I certainly can't write such profound realist content as Tolstoy's." Tolstoy's current ideological level has been improving. Not only is he no longer superstitious about religion as mentioned before, , began to think about some issues independently; he no longer limited himself to criticizing society, and even began to criticize himself.
It is not easy for an old man in his 70s. After all, after living for such a long time, most people's thinking framework has long been solidified.
The Tsar wanted to imprison or exile Toon because of some of his later works, but fortunately he did not implement it.
Firstly, it is because Dostoyevsky has a precedent and was exiled by the Tsarist government for so many years, which has long aroused social indignation; secondly, Tolstoy does have a good family background and was born in a noble family, unlike Dostoyevs. Key was impoverished almost all his life; and Tolstoy had become famous, and the Tsar was afraid of touching him because of his reputation and public opinion.
But because of his masterpiece "Resurrection", the Tsarist government and the Orthodox Church criticized him for being against God and not believing in the afterlife, and in 1901 they excommunicated him in the name of the Holy Seminary.
This decision caused protests across Russia, but Tolstoy took it in stride. Even though it largely caused him to miss the Nobel Prize for Literature, he had no regrets.
And he immediately wrote an article criticizing the tsarist government's suppression of students; he also realized that the Russian serfdom system was very harmful, and wanted the tsar to abolish private ownership of land and give as much land to farmers as possible.
Looking at it this way, Tolstoy is really easier to communicate with. Li Yu still remembered that Einstein and Tagore had met in history, but the meeting between the two was not pleasant.
Einstein was a top physicist, but Tagore was not only a poet, but also a devout Christian.
The dialogue between the two is basically a collision between idealism and materialism. Judging from the conversation records, Tagore has been preaching the role of consciousness and that without people, there would be no such things as truth and beauty in the world.
As a scientist, Einstein certainly believed that the existence of humans could not affect the correctness of the truth in the universe.
However, he did not want to convince Tagore. Judging from the results, he really could not be convinced, so he just expressed his persistence.
Fortunately, Tolstoy no longer believes in God, which can greatly free him from the constraints of his thoughts and communicate with scientific people like Li Yu.
Otherwise, in the eyes of many people during this period, any issue could be interpreted as
"God has designed it, but humans are too stupid to realize it." Many scientists also admit that human cognition is not enough, but they do not think that this is stupidity, but that we should work harder to explore, and scientists also have so-called
"God", but this God is nature, the universe itself. In short, the differences in concepts are indeed too big, and it will become a chicken-and-duck talk.
Tolstoy said: "Your works are also very profound, but I can't understand them." Li Yu understood that he was talking about mathematical content.
Li Yu said: "There is an old Chinese saying that there is a specialization in a skill." Li Yu also said it again in Chinese. Tolstoy smiled and said: "It makes me feel even more regretful to say that. I have never studied Chinese, and I never expected that there are such exquisite and short proverbs." Li Yu sighed lightly: "Chinese culture has a long history and is the most prosperous one in the world. The longest-lasting culture, it’s just that it’s at a low point now, and other countries don’t want to understand it deeply.” Tolstoy, as a Russian, had some feelings about this: “Russia was also a backward country at that time, and it also had no People want to understand our culture. I only know a few translation works about ancient Chinese books, but they are really difficult to read." He was obviously referring to the "Analects of Confucius" that Gu Hongming once translated, so that a foreigner can understand it. It's impossible to think about it.
Li Yu said: "There are many popular works in China, but they have not been translated into other languages." Tolstoy said: "It is a pity. I don't know when I can see them. I would like to see the works related to our country." How is literature different? I have always known that Chinese is a magical language without letters." I am afraid that it will be difficult for him in his lifetime. Li Yu had to say: "Literature itself is a difficult thing to judge. But Wen has no First, there is no second in martial arts. It is enough to have an appreciative group." The speaker has no intention, but the listener has the intention. Tolstoy had a flash in his mind and repeated it: "There is no first in literature, no second in martial arts..." He suddenly became enlightened and said with a smile: "China's language and culture have simply penetrated all the truths of the world. I suddenly understood why I could not win a false name like the Nobel Prize for Literature." Tolstoy couldn't help but repeat. After reading it several times, I became more and more fond of Chinese proverbs.
"It turns out that this is the true meaning of literature." Li Yu himself was a little confused, wondering why Tolstoy was suddenly in such a good mood.
Tolstoy then thought to himself and said: "It seems that my knowledge is still too shallow. You are right, literature is not the first. There is no distinction between high and low, good and bad in literary works, regardless of what they are. There is no first place in serious works or popular works, but it can be the first in my heart. Today you really solved a huge doubt in my heart for me. I am so happy!" Repin is a Toon fan. This sentence The feeling can also be applied to your own art creation.
Repin said to Li Yu: "I didn't expect that as a scientist, you also have such views on art. I rarely see Towen like this." Li Yu touched his head and said casually... Tolstoy Feeling that inspiration burst out in his heart, he said to Repin: "I want to go back to the apartment to write immediately. I will put down the portrait painting for today." Repin said: "But it is almost finished..." Tolstoy said: "I will come again tomorrow. ." He stood up and was about to leave. At the end, he did not forget to say to Li Yu: "If you have the opportunity, be sure to give me a complete collection of Chinese proverbs." Many people had asked for it before, such as Mark from the United States. ·Twain, but Li Yu didn’t have such a book, but looking at Tuo Weng’s firm eyes, he had to temporarily agree: "I will try my best." If you can buy a complete collection of allusions before time travel, where can you find it now? .
Lu Bicheng saw that Tolstoy was about to leave, so he plucked up the courage to ask: "Mr. Tolstoy, can you give me a book signed by you?" Tolstoy said: "Of course. But today I I have to go back to work. If possible, you can buy a copy and come here tomorrow and I will sign it for you." Unexpectedly, he agreed. Lu Bicheng said excitedly: "Thank you, sir!" Tolstoy smiled and said: "A beautiful oriental woman I cannot refuse your request." After Tolstoy finished speaking, he hurried away with his wife.
Repin looked at the drawing board in front of him and said helplessly: "I feel inspired at the moment, but I don't know what to draw." Li Yu smiled and said: "How about oriental works?"
"It makes sense!" Repin continued,
"You guys stand up quickly and I'll draw a portrait for you." Li Yu was stunned: "Us?" Repin took a new drawing board and said: "It just so happens that there is nothing else to do today. Look in the mirror and sit down in front of me. "
"Ah?" Lu Bicheng was a little stunned. She knew that portraits had been painted in China since ancient times, but those who received this kind of treatment were only famous nobles or relatives of the emperor.
Fortunately, Li Yu immediately thought that he couldn't miss the opportunity. The other party was Repin. He took the initiative to ask for a painting for you, which was a dream.
He immediately pulled Lu Bicheng over: "Don't be stunned!"
