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.

A group of young women have 'a bit of a do' for Oxfam at St Pancras International and enjoy a screening of the nation's favourite chick-flick Dirty Dancing on February 28, 2011 in London, England. Oxfam is calling on women across the UK to get together with their female friends in March to celebrate women's achievements for the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day (March 8, 2011) and raise money to support their work with women living in poverty. www.oxfam.org.uk/do (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Oxfam). LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28

A man poses as “Lemongrab” from Adventure Time outside the MCM Comic Con at the Excel Centre in East London, October 25, 2014. (Photo by Andrew Winning/Reuters)

In this May 17, 2015, photo, two men walk past pagodas at Ngwe Saung beach, Pathein township, about 145 miles from Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo by Khin Maung Win/AP Photo)

Leopard seal chasing a Gentoo penguin in Antarctica. This image wins the gold prize in the behaviour – mammals category, and the grand prize of World Nature Photographer of the Year. (Photo by Amos Nachoum/World Nature Photography Awards)

Norway's Karsten Warholm celebrates winning the men's 400m hurdles at the Diamond League in London, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters)

England fan celebrates on top of an ambulance after England' s win over Sweden in the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter- final football match, in London on July 7, 2018. (Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters)