Sculpture of Anton Chekhov in Tomsk, Bronze monument in Tomsk, Russia

The Chekhov sculpture in Tomsk stands about 2 meters tall and depicts the writer in a coat and glasses with exaggerated bare feet, holding an umbrella behind his back. The bronze monument sits on the Tom River embankment near Lenin Square.

The monument was installed on August 20, 2004, to mark Tomsk's 400th anniversary, funded through public donations. Sculptor Leonty Usov created it as a humorous response to Chekhov's critical comments about the city.

The sculpture responds with humor to Chekhov's disparaging remarks about Tomsk from his 1890 visit, shown through its caricatured form. Visitors see in it a city that doesn't take itself too seriously.

The monument sits on the river embankment and is easy to reach while exploring Lenin Square and the surrounding area. The bronze surface can be slippery in wet weather, so take care when approaching the work.

Students regularly polish the statue's nose before exams, creating a shiny patch on the bronze surface to bring academic success. This local tradition shows how visitors interact with the monument in a playful way.