To produce the images that convey his fatalistic and ironic approach to life, tinged with hope, he needed the environment and knowledge of Mother Russia, oiled with a bit of bribery to certain circus trainers. Enter the Great Russian Bear, the personification of Russia for the last several centuries, onto center stage and into his studio. The bear is recognized as both brutish and cute – Misha was the mascot for the 1980 Olympic Games – and has remained a symbol of Russia since Tsarist times. In 2009 it is the symbol of the United Russia Party.

Bikers push their motorbikes during a traffic block as they take part in the “Enduropale” motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 1, 2015. About 1100 motorbike and 600 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the racing endurance event. (Photo by Pascal Rossignol/Reuters)

This photo taken on November 4, 2019 shows people taking part in a fish catching competition in a paddy field in Leishan county in China's southwestern Guizhou province, to celebrate the new year festival Miao people. (Photo by AFP Photo/China Stringer Network)

Israeli soldiers detain a protester during a demonstration by Palestinians protesting against the Israeli-built West Bank separation barrier and calling for the right of return for Palestinian refugees, in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, on May 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Nasser Ishtayeh)

A supporter of the Houthis has a poster attached to his waist of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, who was killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, during a rally to denounce the U.S. killing, in Saada, Yemen January 6, 2020. The writing on the poster reads: “God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam”. (Photo by Naif Rahma/Reuters)

The World Enduro Super Series roared back into life this weekend with Mario Roman coming out on top at the Toyota Porto Extreme XL Lagares on May 12 to stake an early claim for the title of Ultimate Enduro Champion 2019. The Spaniard beat the 300 competitors, including 50 pros, who entered Sunday's Hard Enduro feature race in the baking Portuguese heat. Here: Graham Jarvis and Billy Bolt race at Toyota Porto Extreme XL Lagares, Portugal on May 12, 2019. (Photo by Future7Media/Red Bull Content Pool via AP Images)

A runner competes in the Great Wall Marathon at the Huangyaguan Great Wall outside Beijing, China, May 18, 2019. (Photo by Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Brasil's Flavia Saraiva competes on the Balance Beam in the Women's Team Final during the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, in Antwerp, northern Belgium, on October 4, 2023. (Photo by Lionel Bonaventure/AFP Photo)