Maxim Gorky and Danko Demonstrate a Freshly Ripped-Out Heart to the Foolish Penguins

Maxim Gorky – the great proletarian writer. Danko – his romantic hero («The Legend of Danko» from Old Woman Izergil by Maxim Gorky).

In the painting:

Right side: Maxim Gorky and Danko. Dankos bloody chest, Dankos bloodied hand clutching the torn-out heart,
Splatters of blood and other horror elements.

Left side: The Foolish Penguins. A penguin herd guarded by police officers (those same gorodovye constables Gorky loved to describe). Top right: Characters from Gorkys scandalous play The Lower Depths. They appear as spectators to this macabre spectacle.

From the series Dasha Weisbrem: Rereading Russian Classics