2

Native “decadents” had been calling them “calendar tripe” for the last three decades; yet Linde had always had an army of stout admirers; mighty few of them turned up at his exhibitions in America. Very soon a number of unconsolable oils found themselves being shipped back to Moscow, while another batch moped in rented flats before trouping up to the attic or creeping down to the marketstall.

What can be sadder than a discouraged

2

在过去的三十多年里，尽管本国“颓废派艺术家”把它们称为“没有价值的挂历画”，林德还是拥有大批坚定不移的仰慕者。但在美国，前来为他的画展捧场的人却屈指可数。不久，一批极可悲的油画被运回了莫斯科，另一些则忧郁地游荡于租来的公寓里，等着在阁楼上展出，或是被偷偷运到集市上贱卖掉。

还有什么比一个失意的