Russian Medieval Architecture
Moscow 2009 GUM Department Store
Built in the late 1880’s as a replacement for shops that had burned in the great fire of Moscow, GUM is a mix of Russian medieval architecture and 19th century railway station designs. (If you get a chance to photograph an old railway station with an arched glass roof, you’re a lucky photographer.)
GUM, meaning main government store, and pronounced “goom” in English, is a tourist attraction. I noticed tourists and beautiful, well dressed young Russian women browsing the shops. No old babushkas were seen. Shops featured the latest fashions, furs and jewelry as well as gourmet food. No book shops that I noticed. I’d have liked to buy some books with Russian art. (Maybe after reading this, Putin will tell them to put a bookshop in…think??)
Photographing the shop interiors was frowned upon but no one minded if you photographed each other or yourself in the atrium area. Although this was before the rage of “selfies”.
I stylized this photo using Snap Art 4. I always try some little tricks on photos that don’t tell a story. And I like the squiggly lines. They remind me of Edward Munch’s painting, The Scream.