☠ Tolstoyan Tragedy ☠

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

 “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” While the opening sentence of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is perhaps too absolute, it hits close to home. And for this reason I dedicate this post to my sister, Annie. Her name may not be exactly linguistically synonymous with "Anna Karenina," but may her life (and her art) one day become the same level of masterpiece. I also credit her for these photos.

“He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina 

There are no moving parts in these pictures: no trains, no Vronsky, no Levin, no Kitty, no Yasnaya Polyana...but there is a city (St Louis) and the train in question (my Prius) is leaving in just a few days. St Louis certainly was not the Moscow where I wanted to be following graduation, but unlike the fictional Anna, I used my time in St Louis to grow, not to suffer. St Louis has in fact been my middle-of-the-road (just like Anna couldn't stop looking at the middles of the wheels of the approaching train) launching point from which I will begin my life. While Tolstoy's critique of the industrial, urbane, and foreign (specifically the British flavor of Anna Karenina) was spot-on at the time, my own story is luckily taking a different route. I am physically, mentally, and soulfully moving back to my roots, back to the sunshine. I am going home but I'm leaving my family behind. The moving parts have not yet begun their journey, but I have a feeling my train has a long ways to go before it stops.
Coat + Cape: Collectif via Modcloth
Veil: Asos
Lipstick + Eyeliner: Nyx Purple Rain Jumbo Eye Pencil
Earrings: Urban Outfitters (deconstructed)

xo  SFB

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