History Literature / ThePicture

* SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp: Played very straight with Pashkov who indeed was a bully for the local kids in Lykov and then as an adult makes a career not without some initial assistance from Losev. He becomes an aid for his superior Uvarov. Thus he turns into the {{Dragon}} for Uvarov (who is not a BigBad though) and probably an antagonist.

* {{Dragon}}: Peter Pashkov for Uvarov althought the latter is not a BigBad.

* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: Subverted as Losev and in the end of the novel the art expert Badin "understand" the greatness of picture "By the River" when they examine it long enough.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In this case it is rather [[JustForPun What Happened to the Moose]] as it is not known what happened to Losev. Though one denizen of Lykov is sure that he'll return because the time will demand a man like that.

* UpToEleven: Polivanov asks Roginsky to write an office memo about the building to be saved and be as rcategorical as possible about its value. Roginsky is considered a competent person in this matter and his reasons will be considered so Losev reckons to use his memo in the bureaucratic kungfu about the building as a weighty argument. A usually cautious Losev urges Roginsky to use the strongest expressions.

* {{Meganekko}}: Tatyana Tuchkova, the teacher in the school in Lykov, must be this. She wears very big glasses and turns out to be pretty.

* ParentalSubstitute: Two of themn for Losev: first Figurovsky then Arkady Matveevich. His father dies when he was still young.

* DoubleStandard: Losev catches his wife in flagranti and then their marriage slowly collapses. However already after the account of their separation it is briefly mentions that he too had two flighty affairs. He in vokes this trope, assuming that he might be NotSoDifferent from his wife.

* NotSoDifferent: Losev is drinking with his mentor Arkady Matveevich when another bureaucrat, Sechikhin, approaches them and, treating Arkady Matveevich with sheer condescendance, asks him when his article will be ready. Turns out than Arkady Matveevich, the intellectual, writes materials for various less refined officials for money, providing them with high concepts. Losev calls out Sechikhin but later realises that he actually exploits the intellect of Arkady Matveevich too. Of course he always treats him with utter respect in their conversations. However he remembers the saying of the ancient Chinese that "reverence comes with the loss of justice". Thus he might also use Arkady Matveevich like Sechikhin and reproduces this trope. Actually Arkady Matveevich never objects to that.

The Picture is a 1979 novel by the Russian Soviet writer Daniil Granin. Its original title is Картина (Kartina).

** In the end both of these acts are arguably as conducive to the preservation of the house as his manipulartions if not more. While he expected people to remain calm and trust him, being certain that he will win the bureaucratic kungfu fight.
* YourCheatingHeart: The former wife of Lykov who cheats on him with the "bizon" or "zubr" (зубр in Russian). After that their marriage gradually collapses.
** Also Lykov himself happened to cheat on his wife at least twice before he surprises her with a lover.

* BadassGrandpa: Polivanov big time.

* {{Bishonen}}: Constantin Anisimov who is slender and has long hair. Once he is likened to a girl by one of the citizens.

* SpiritedYoungLady: Tuchkova.

* OnlyOneName: Not quite so but Arkady Matveevich does not have surname mentioned unlike everyone else only a name ana a patronymic. Thus no family/clan/whatever identifier as in the description of the trope. Such address is very respectful still he does not receive a surname at all.