At the Fish Market

In At the Fish Market, Ladyzhensky reflects on “this desire that arose in me, unexpected and all-encompassing, to paint the scenes of my childhood and youth,” noting the intermingling of senses throughout the city and, in particular, the aromas. He describes the market as “where you could find the face of the city, its genuine face, not the one for show,” and thus one of his favorite facets of Odessan life to depict.

Where another story, Lanzheron, journeys through Odessa’s visual beauty and landmarks, At the Fish Market explores the geography of Odessa through smell: of the market, the barber, blooming trees, millet, chestnuts, sunflower oil, cinnamon, kerosene, and smoked mackerel. To explain the connection between these memories and the visuals in his paintings, Ladyzhensky says, “smells evoked tastes, tastes changed to sounds, and sounds have brought on the visual image of a black iron brazier, with glowing red phosphorescent holes where the wood charcoal burned hot.” His humor shines through as he describes vegetables at the market, “careless with their aromas,” the radishes, “well aware of their own bitter taste,” but believing “in their own picturesque image.” This story closes with an allusion to the biblical creation story and Ladyzhensky’s characteristic bitterness toward the monumental social and economic changes that took place in Odessa over the course of his early life.