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07.12.2020

We are proud to share with you these magnificent black-and-white photographs of our parks in autumn 2020, taken by Mr Alexander Y. Novikov, a member of the Russian Geographical Society, a Friend of Tsarskoe Selo and a participant of our recent academic conference.

As the author said, "This autumn, like this whole unhappy year, will linger in my head as pictures of somewhat enchanted, lonely parks of Tsarskoe Selo, deprived of their usual crowds of admiring visitors. They resemble the kingdom of Sleeping Beauty waiting for her prince's magic kiss. The ponds of Tsarskoe Selo seemed left with no moving waters. The flame-coloured maples, bright oaks and flaring rowanberries could not take away the feeling of transparency on the brink of emptiness. The colour disappeared, as it was no longer pleasing to the eye and therefore not needed. Because without people, the world becomes just a vacuum."