On October 1, the Russian House in Brussels hosted the lecture “The Hermitage and the Viewer: A Contemporary Look at a Traditional Museum” and the opening of the exhibition “Hermitage. Solitude.” The event attracted those interested not only in art but also in the hidden pages of the history of one of the world’s largest museums.

Svetlana Datsenko, Advisor to the General Director of the State Hermitage Museum, spoke about how a centuries-old museum engages with the modern audience, the forms of communication it adopts, and the ways it reveals its rich collections. A special part of her talk was devoted to the secrets of the Winter Palace. Even in the 21st century, the Hermitage continues to keep its mysteries: letters and artifacts from past centuries are still discovered under the floorboards, while attentive visitors can spot “Easter eggs” in the halls — details and traces of history that make the visit truly captivating.

At the same time, the Hermitage holds collections that, for various reasons, remain inaccessible to the general public. This gives the museum a unique depth: visitors see only a part of its vast holdings, behind which lie untold stories and discoveries.

It is also important to remember the Hermitage’s life during the war and the blockade: the story of the museum’s survival is itself a separate chapter of cultural heritage, a testament to the resilience and dedication of its staff.

Immediately after the lecture, the opening of the author’s photo project “Hermitage. Solitude” took place. Its creator, the museum’s chief art photographer, Yuri Molodkovets, presented unique images that convey the atmosphere of the Hermitage’s halls outside the usual museum rhythm.

Molodkovets shared the story behind the project and spoke about the inspiration he finds in the night hours, when the museum is left without visitors. At these times, the space of the Winter Palace transforms: in the silence and soft light, artworks seem to enter into dialogue with one another and with the observer. According to him, at night the exhibits are perceived differently — their forms and details come alive, revealing new meanings and evoking a sense of connection to the hidden life of the museum.

The event became not only a meeting with art but also a dialogue about the future of the museum, which, while preserving traditions, is opening up new ways of communicating with its audience.