Vasily Sitnikov's place in the post-war Soviet Nonconformist canon is well established throughout Russia and the world. He was institutionalized by Soviet authorities and placed in a mental hospital in the 1940s, barely escaping execution in Kazan. After his release, Sitnikov's paintings reflected his rejuvenated lust for life, celebrating humanism and beauty in all its forms. Some of his favorite subjects were Russian monasteries with their cool blue cupolas and solid white walls seen in this painting. He emigrated to Austria in 1975 and then to the US. According to Sitnikov, "I had about 30 or 40 reasons to immigrate, but the main hope was to prove myself.To see if I could compete with the masters of Europe and America." In 2002 he was the subject of the documentary film "VASYA".