Mussorgski Pictures at an Exhibition / Bilder Einer Ausstellung with Pictures

This is the first edition of the "Pictures at an Exhibition" that features color reproductions of the paintings and sketches which Mussorgsky had seen at the commemorative exhibition for Victor Alexandrovich Hartmann held in St. Petersburg in February 1874. The artist, who was on friendly terms with Mussorgsky, had died the previous year at the age of 39. What they both had in common was their striving to find inspiration for their artistic work in Russian history, folklore and everyday life. Since Hartmann's career was disproportionately short, and he had not yet fully made his breakthrough as an artist, it is not surprising that we remember him today solely in connection with Mussorgsky's music.