УДК: 741.5

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2025-4-10-55

EDN: ZEFGQJ

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Mikhail V. Stroganov

Dr. Sc. in Philology, Leading Research Associate
A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Moscow, Russia
E-mail: mvstroganov@gmail.com

Tolstoy’s Anniversary of 1908 in Caricature

Abstract

Caricature is one of the most powerful tools of socio-political struggle. In 1908, Leo Tolstoy was perceived by the global public not merely as a writer, but as a significant social and political force. Thus, all his public statements and the reactions to them became subjects for political cartoons, which were aimed not at Tolstoy himself, but at his opponents and admirers. The perception of Tolstoy as a giant of literature and public life led to a disproportional depiction of his figure compared to those around him. Being depicted alongside Tolstoy (as was the case only with Maxim Gorky and Alexander Kuprin) was simultaneously an honor and a subject of critique. His primary opponents at this time were members of the State Duma who spoke against celebrating his anniversary, and figures from the Union of the Russian People (ironically referred to as ‘allies’), particularly Mikhail Menshikov. Tolstoy's admirers, who turned his jubilee into a mass culture performance, also became targets of satirical depiction. It also influenced their literary reputations. Tolstoy's own ambivalent attitude towards the anniversary celebrations problematized, in the public consciousness, the notion of his personal immunity from satire. This is evident, for instance, in the complete absence of reverential deference towards Tolstoy in the journal Satirikon. The grotesque and ironic interplay between the drawings and the clichéd, formulaic titles attributed to the writer casts doubt on the sincerity of both Tolstoy's professed indifference to the celebrations and his protest against them — a man who constantly lived a hectic life and almost daily posed in one role or another. In the year of his 80th birthday, Tolstoy finally transformed from the author of individual works into a monument, with all the advantages and disadvantages of such a status. Unlike satire of manners, caricature is situationally specific. While generalizing a specific situation, it does not abstract from it and requires particularly detailed commentary.

Keywords

Leo Tolstoy, caricature, cartoon, satire, literary anniversary, socio-political life, literary reputation, Satirikon.

For citation

Stroganov M. V. Tolstoy’s Anniversary of 1908 in Caricature. Theatre. Fine Arts. Cinema. Music. 2025, no. 4, pp. 10–55.

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2025-4-10-55

EDN ZEFGQJ

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Received: 18.01.2025

Revised: 07.07.2025

Accepted: 28.07.2025