“Alexander Nevsky” is one of the works of Alexandra Vasilievna Shchekatikhina-Pototskaya, the wife of Ivan Bilibin, created during a challenging period in the history of Russia — the Great Patriotic War.

Since September 1941, the city of Leningrad was under siege. Shchekatikhina-Pototskaya shared the hardships of life in the besieged city with all the Leningraders. In the winter of 1942, Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin died. However, the heavy loss, the hunger pangs and cold, the incessant aerial bombardment and shelling did not force Shchekatikhina-Pototskaya to leave Leningrad. There was another reason not to leave the city — Alexandra Vasilyevna’s son Mstislav Pototsky. After the Directorate of the Academy of Arts suggested to evacuate, Professor Ivan Bilibin wrote in his diary:

During the blockade, Alexandra Vasilievna worked a lot, despite the incredibly difficult conditions. The subjects of her works created at this time were based on the heroic past and echoed the heroic nature of liberation movements against enemy occupation. In 1942, an exhibition of works by Leningrad artists was held in Moscow. In the section dedicated to sculpture, two versions of Shchekatikhina-Pototskaya’s porcelain composition “The Personal Fight of Mstislav the Brave with Rededya” and her plasticine work “Ice Battle” and “Alexander Nevsky” were displayed. The plot of “Alexander Nevsky” was then developed by her into a sketch for painting a large decorative vase.

Over the years that had passed since Shchekatikhina-Pototskaya’s return from abroad, some changes gradually took place in her style. She experienced new things, which required reflection. Part of what had previously seemed acceptable to her was now rejected, much was revised and obtained new forms in the artist’s mind.

Over time, Alexandra Vasilievna made the decorative element of her paintings look slightly different. Her brush stroke acquired greater accuracy. The colors changed and became purer and more local. The images that the artist recreated in her works gained greater tangibility and authenticity.