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.

Is it strange to party in a cemetery, do you think? Thousands, many elaborately dressed and made up, thronged the Hollywood Forever cemetery on October 30th to celebrate the Day of the Dead with music, dancing, food and artistic renditions of family altars, all among the graves of Rudolph Valentino, Marion Davies, Tyrone Power, Douglas Fairbanks and Johnny Ramone.

(L-R) Zoe Kravitz, Jason Momoa, and Lisa Bonet attend the world premiere of “Conan The Barbarian” held at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on August 11, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Participants gather before the start of a candlelight procession at the end of a three-day "Day of The Dead" (Dia de los Muertos) celebration in Old Town San Diego, California November 2, 2015. (Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters)

Camila Cabello performs on stage during The Global Awards 2020 with Very.co.uk held at London's Eventim Apollo Hammersmith on Thursday, March 5, 2020. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)

Actress Ella Balinska attends a Charlie's Angels VIP Screening Hosted by Elizabeth Banks and Natalie Zfat, in Partnership with Harry & David at AMC Empire 25 on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)

English radio and television presenter Caroline Flack, 40, seen arriving at Bagatelle restaurant in Mayfair on November 08, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by GORC/GC Images)

Models Kendall Jenner and Joan Smalls are seen holding hands as they coordinated in pink while arriving with friends at LIV Miami during Art Basel on December 5, 2019. Luka Sabbat was also seen accompanying the women during their night out on the town. (Photo by Backgrid USA)