The tenth issue of WAM magazine was published in 2004. The issue comprised 146 pages.
This issue coincided with the observance of the «Year of German Culture–2004» in Russia. It opened with a welcoming address by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Russian Federation, Hans-Friedrich von Pletz. In the address that followed, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Egor Larichev, noted: the goal of the «German Issue» was not simply to present our own perspective on German culture, but first and foremost to move beyond the stereotypes that divide «us» and «the other.»
Klim Kolosov’s article, «The Munich Pinakotheken: The Wittelsbach Family Dynasty, ” narrates the history of the Bavarian royal house, which reigned for over 700 years, accumulating exquisite paintings for nearly two-thirds of that period. Their collections formed three Munich Pinakotheken—museums housing vast holdings of global art. The article is illustrated with reproductions from these collections by Hans Holbein the Younger, Michael Pascher, Max Riley, Matthias Grünewald, Bernhard Striegel, Stefan Lochner, and a host of artists whose names history has failed to preserve.
The material, titled «The Tournament Book of Duke Wilhelm IV, ” is dedicated to the handwritten tournament book that describes and illustrates all the tournaments in which the Bavarian Duke Wilhelm participated. This book was completed in 1544 and presented to the Duke. The material features reproductions of the illustrations from this book, accompanied by commentary, translations of excerpts from the book itself, and explanatory text by medieval historian Svetlana Luchitskaya.
Vladimir Sipiyagin’s article, «Nation Against Rome: Lucas Cranach the Elder, ” is dedicated to the German painter, graphic artist, and engraver of the Northern Renaissance and Reformation period, Lucas Cranach the Elder. The author examines the work of father and son Cranach within their historical context, noting that after the death of Cranach the Younger, German painting largely devolved into mere craftsmanship—something „of interest only to antiques aficionados”—and only revived after the Thirty Years' War. The article is illustrated with reproductions of works by both artists from various collections.
In the article «My Georg Gross» by author Egor Radov, the focus is on the author’s personal impressions and his relationship with the work of the renowned German painter, graphic artist, and caricaturist, Georg Gross. The author quotes various texts by Gross, boldly labeling him a «metaphysical punk, ” and noting that the artist found „the genuine essence and spirit“ in „the curvature, the grime, the snarls, the grimaces, and the obvious impossibility of meaning.“ The article is illustrated with graphic and painting works by Georg Gross from various collections.
The article by Georgy Ivlev and Artyom Kalitkin, «Collection on Wheels: BMW Art Cars, ” is dedicated to a series of sports cars from the German company BMW, painted by renowned contemporary artists: Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ernst Fuchs, Ken Done, Robert Rauschenberg, Mike Jagamar Nelson, Matadzo Kayama, César Manrique, A. R. Penk, Sandro Chia, Ester Malangu, David Hockney, and Jenny Holzer.