Kameneff arrived almost punctually at 10 a.m. for an hour, but he stayed
till 1 o’clock, and we talked for the whole three hours almost without
stopping. I do not know how I managed to work and talk so much. My mind
was really more focussed on the discussion, and the work was done
subconsciously. At all events when the three hours were ended, I had
produced a likeness.
There is very little modelling in his face, it is a perfect oval, and
his nose is straight with the line of his forehead, but turns up
slightly at the end, which is a pity. It is difficult to make him look
serious, as he smiles all the time. Even when his mouth is severe his
eyes laugh.
My “Victory” was unveiled when he arrived and he noticed it at once. I
told him it represented the Victory of the Allies, and he exclaimed:
“But no! It is the Victory of all the ages. What pain! What suffering!
What exhaustion!” He then added that it was the best bit of Peace
propaganda that he had seen.
We had wonderful conversations. He told me all kinds of details of the
Soviet legislation, their ideals and aims. Their first care, he told me,
is for the children, they are the future citizens and require every
protection. If parents are too poor to bring up their children, the
State will clothe, feed, harbour and educate them until fourteen years
old, legitimate and illegitimate alike, and they do not need to be lost
to their parents, who can see them whenever they wish. This system, he
said, had doubled the percentage of marriages (civil of course), and it
had also allayed a good deal of crime--for what crimes are not committed
to destroy illegitimate children?
He described the enforced education of all classes--he told of the
concerts they organise for their workmen, and of their appreciation of
Bach and Wagner.
They have had to abandon (already!) the idea that all should be paid
alike. Admitting that some are physically able to work longer and better
than others, therefore there have to be grades of payment, and when
great talent shows itself, “_cela merite d’être recompensé_.”
Chaliapin, who used to have the title of “Artist to the Court,” is now
called “The Artist of the People.” Chaliapin, I gathered, was a very
popular figure.
After awhile, Kameneff let drop a suggestion which did not fall on
barren ground--he threw it out apparently casually, but in order, I
believe, to see how I reacted to it. I had just been telling him that I
had all my life had a love of Russian literature, Russian music, Russian
dancing, Russian art, and he said, “You should come to Russia.”
I said that I had always dreamed it--and that perhaps--who
knows--someday....
He said, “You can come with me, and I will get you sittings from Lenin
and Trotsky.”
I thought he was joking, and hesitated a moment, then I said: “Let me
know when you are going to start, and I will be ready in half an hour.”
He offered to telegraph immediately to Moscow for permission.