Fat and Thin, Bronze sculpture near Chekhov Shop Museum in Taganrog, Russia.
Fat and Thin is a bronze sculpture depicting two figures meeting after many years, their bodies shaped by their contrasting life experiences. The work captures the moment of recognition between a man who has become stout and another who remains thin, with their physical forms telling the story of diverging social circumstances.
The sculpture was created in 2010 by artist David Begalov and draws inspiration from Anton Chekhov's short story first published in 1883. This bronze work emerged decades later as a tribute to the literary piece that captured the lives of these two characters.
The figures bring to life two former schoolmates from Chekhov's story who encounter each other years later. Their contrasting shapes and stances reflect how different life paths can shape a person over time.
The sculpture sits on Gogol Street in the city center, next to the Chekhov Shop Museum and within walking distance of other main attractions. You can easily include it in a walking tour of central Taganrog without needing any special arrangements.
The two figures stand in distinctly different poses that suggest movement and emotion within a frozen moment in time. This sense of motion and tension between them creates a narrative quality that makes the bronze piece feel alive despite being cast metal.
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