How Mayakovsky brought a car from Paris for Lilya Brik (PHOTOS)
Soviet Poet Vladimir Mayakovsky set off for Europe in 1928. He had many plans: finishing his play ‘The Bedbug’, as well as the screenplay ‘The Ideal and the Blanket’, which he had written for French director René Clair. But, most importantly, he was fulfilling the request from his muse, Lilya Brik.
She dreamed of a car. But not just any car, one that met all her requirements. A closed car, with spare tires and spare parts and a suitcase in the back – preferably a Buick or Renault. And only a model that didn't look like a taxi.
The poet fulfilled Lilya's wish and bought her a black and gray Renault ‘NN2’ for 20,000 francs. Having personally packed all the accompanying purchases (in addition to windshield wipers, an additional spotlight and accessories, the set included gloves and "car clothes"), Mayakovsky sent the gift to Moscow.
The purchases arrived in the capital in Winter 1929 and Lilia became one of the city's first female car enthusiasts. This very car was featured in Alexander Rodchenko's famous photo series, which its participants called ‘The unfulfilled Journey’.
Brik initially planned to go to Leningrad, but Rodchenko couldn't take her there.
"We agreed to drive about 20 miles, he'd take some photos and then return home, while I'd continue on. But, I didn't go any further. It turned out the road was terrible and the car started sputtering. Besides, driving that far alone was boring and dangerous," she recalled.
