Zacatecas Landscape with Hanged Men
Francisco Goitia
This 1914 canvas exposes the horrors of the Mexican Revolution. Two skeletal corpses hang from a barren tree, their twisted bodies blending with the lifeless landscape, while an owl perches above as a symbol of death. Goitia, who witnessed the battle of Zacatecas, rejected heroic depictions in favor of brutal realism. His work stands as both testimony and condemnation, capturing the trauma of a nation torn by war.
Young Sick Bacchus
Caravaggio
This self-portrait (c. 1593) shows Caravaggio as Bacchus with jaundiced skin and tense features, painted while recovering from illness. The ivy crown replaces the usual vine leaves, subverting divine idealism. Both sensual and unsettling, the image mocks classical beauty and reveals the artist’s own physical vulnerability.
Emperor Hadrian
Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta (attrib.)
This 16th-c. fresco from the Sala Paolina depicts Emperor Hadrian in idealized Roman military attire. Portrayed with commanding calm, Hadrian stands framed by classical architecture and winged putti, symbolizing both earthly rule and divine favor. The work affirms his legacy as builder, humanist, and guardian of imperial order—within the very mausoleum he commissioned.
Tomb of Archbishop Scherlatti
Nino Pisano
This marble relief (c. 1300–1350) formed part of the tomb of Archbishop Scherlatti. Christ is depicted in the Imago Pietatis pose, rising from the tomb with eyes closed, flanked by two mourning angels. The scene blends devotional tenderness with refined Gothic elegance, exemplifying Nino Pisano’s lyrical style and the growing emotional realism in 14th-c. funerary art.
The Courtyard of the Wind Palace
Salvador Dalí
Dalí’s surreal installation (1970s) features golden female mannequins resembling votive icons in windows surrounding a central bronze figure of Venus crowned with a ship. This work merges classical motifs with theatrical elements, creating a fantastical vision of fertility, mythology, and voyeurism, showcasing Dalí’s unique blend of art and architecture.
Triumph of Galatea (detail)
Raphael
This portion (1511–12) shows Galatea, the sea nymph of Greek myth, riding a dolphin-drawn shell chariot. Around her, tritons and nereids embody the vibrant energy of the sea. Raphael’s design celebrates Galatea’s beauty and grace, while capturing the joyful movement of the marine procession.
Adoration of the Christ Child
Workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio
This tondo (c. 1485–1490) shows Mary and Joseph adoring the infant Christ, lying humbly on the earth. The sarcophagus-like manger prefigures his Passion, while the ox and donkey fulfill Isaiah and Habakkuk’s prophecy of animals recognizing the Lord. The scene binds intimacy, humility, and cosmic redemption.
Cupid Pleads with Jupiter for Psyche
Raphael
In this fresco (1517–18), Raphael depicts the moment when Cupid petitions Jupiter for Psyche’s immortality. Jupiter’s intimate gesture suggests divine consent and compassion, while Cupid’s youthful vulnerability contrasts with the god’s authority. The work reflects Renaissance fascination with classical myths and divine love.
Planting of the First Cross
Vicente Manansala
The painting depicts the 1521 event in Cebu where Ferdinand Magellan and Spanish soldiers, with tattooed natives called pintados, planted a cross. Commissioned for the 400th anniversary of Philippine Christianization in 1965, it captures a pivotal historical moment. Manansala’s transparent cubism blends traditional and modern styles, highlighting cultural convergence. The original cross is a historical artifact in Cebu City.
Fourth International (detail)
Diego Rivera
This segment of Rivera’s 1934 mural shows Marx, Engels, and Trotsky rallying workers beneath a red banner proclaiming unity across nations. The multilingual call to join the Fourth International affirms Rivera’s radical vision: true liberation must come from the workers themselves, guided by socialist ideals and international solidarity.
Perspective Gallery
Francesco Borromini
Created for Cardinal Spada, this architectural illusion (1653) compresses nine meters into an illusion of great depth. By subtly reducing the size of columns, floor tiles, and ceiling coffers, Borromini crafted a vanishing point that evokes grandeur. The statue at the end, appearing monumental, is just 90 cm tall—transforming scale into metaphysical reflection.
Apollo and Daphne with The Apotheosis of Romulus
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Mariano Rossi
Bernini’s sculpture (1622–25) captures the climactic moment in Ovid’s Metamorphoses when the nymph Daphne, fleeing Apollo’s desire, transforms into a laurel tree. Above, Rossi’s Apotheosis of Romulus celebrates Rome’s divine origins. Romulus ascends, clutching Roma—helmeted symbol of the eternal city—while Fame, winged and bearing a trumpet, heralds his glory with laurel crowns. Together, sculpture and fresco exalt mythic transformation and Rome’s enduring legacy.
Christ Blessing with Virgin at Prayer
Master of Flémalle
This 15th-c. oak panel by the Master of Flémalle, often associated with Robert Campin, exemplifies early Netherlandish style. It showcases realistic detail through innovative oil paint use. The depiction of Christ blessing and the Virgin Mary at prayer reflects the era’s religious devotion and artistic innovation, marking a pivotal moment in European art’s evolution.
Silenced by Pain
Ángel Haché
This mixed-media work (2014) uses corrugated cardboard to depict three anguished nude figures pierced through the head by jagged red waves, symbols of auditory torture or psychological trauma. Their tense bodies and gestures of covering their ears suggest helplessness before systemic violence. The scene recalls the enforced silence and invisible suffering experienced under Trujillo’s dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.
The Saviour Not Made by Hand
Simon Ushakov
This mid–late 17th-c. fresco depicts Spas Nerukotvorny (The Saviour Not Made by Hand), an image understood as a direct imprint of Christ’s face and a sign of his enduring presence. Ushakov follows Byzantine conventions yet introduces soft modeling and spatial depth drawn from Western art. The work reflects a moment when Moscow blended inherited Orthodox forms with new artistic influences to express religious renewal.
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
For as long as I can remember, my path has been one of discovery—seeking beauty, timelessness, and connection in every corner of the world. It has also been a journey of deep learning and understanding. I’ve been an avid traveler (or perhaps a travel addict?) for most of my life. My love for travel began long before I ever left home: as a child, I drew a fantasy map of my grandparents’ apartment and “traveled” through it with my cousin Sonya, imagining adventures in every corner. Nearly 90 countries and countless moments of awe later, I’m excited to share this journey with you.
Thanks to the tireless and ingenious programming of Diagilev, we’re now able to present about fifteen percent of the images I’ve accumulated over the years. More will be released in small batches depending on your interest. While the first release leans toward museum photography, later ones will include more nature, architecture, culture, and general travel experiences. If you’d like to receive email notifications about new releases, feel free to reach out—no commercial use, ever.
Throughout my travels, I’ve been drawn to two intertwined kinds of discovery. One is intellectual: learning why the world is the way it is. History became my guide, shaping my perspective and filling my camera roll with museums and old buildings. To me, history is not the past—it is the key to understanding the present and how the world became what it is. The other is emotional: seeking moments of elevation—spirituality, beauty, harmony—often found in nature, monasteries, and ancient sacred spaces. Together, these impulses shape my photography. It invites you to learn, admire, and soar—to rise above the mundane and see the world through a lens of curiosity and wonder.
Much of my later travel became possible thanks to my job with Delta Air Lines, but the wanderlust began years earlier. By the time I joined the industry, I had already visited over 35 countries and lived in several—largely thanks to a backpacking journey around the world with Luis León, whose face appears in many early photos. I grew up in Ufa in the USSR, and since leaving it I have lived, studied, and worked in Latvia, the United States, France, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Colombia.
A life of near-constant movement may seem a little crazy, but it has deepened my understanding of the world and produced the photography you are about to see. Over the years, my style has evolved—more intentional, more refined—yet its core remains the same: a search for understanding, timeless beauty, and a connection to those who walked this earth long before us.
I hope these photos stir something in your soul, just as they did in mine. I’d love to hear from you—whether reactions, suggestions, corrections, or a request to be added to the email list for new releases (no commercial use, I promise). You can learn more about my travels here, and my academic life here.
Enjoy our shared journey!