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Abstract:

The object of research in this work is the house of the Esenin family in different periods of its existence, starting from 1871 and ending in 2025, when it is one of the tourist centers of attraction and is part of the complex of expositions of the S.A. Esenin State Museum- Reserve. The article examines the peculiarities of the interpretation of decorative elements in a peasant dwelling, presented in S.A. Esenin’s treatise “The Keys of Mary”, as well as a historical and ethnographic study revealing the decorative and constructive features of the houses in which the Esenin family lived in different periods. The house is the central image in Esenin’s work, symbolizing his homeland, childhood and connection with nature. Much attention has been paid to the importance of the native home in the poet’s life and work, so in this study we tried to identify the features of the Esenin hut structure from an ethnographic point of view, which had not been fully covered by any of the researchers until that moment. This is how we have identified the stages of the Esenin household: 1) 1871–1909 — a two-storey house with a basement, built by the poet’s grandfather; 2) 1910–1922 — a one-story hut of the Central Russian type with carved decorations, destroyed by fire; 3) 1924–1929 — a new house with a gable roof and rich carvings, partially damaged by fire; 4) 1930–2025 — restored house, close to the 1910–1922 version, which became part of the museum-reserve. The study reveals the deep connection between the architecture of the peasant house and the folk philosophy and work of Esenin, emphasizing its role as a material and spiritual heritage. The modern museum complex in Konstantinovo recreates the appearance of the house, which is closest to the period associated with the best memories of the poet’s family.