Bear Surprise (often dubbed just "Surprise!") is a watercolor painting by American painter John Lurie, the style of which has been described as primitivist and naïve.[1] The painting depicts a couple having sex in a meadow, with a bear standing in front of them, with fore paws in a distinctive position. There is a speech bubble above the head of the bear which reads "Surprise!". The picture is considered an internet meme in Russian culture and has been described by Victor Sonkin in the The Moscow Times as having "gained vast popularity with the speed of an avalanche."[1] Its popularity, especially in runet, led to the bear's speech balloon being changed from "Surprise" to "Preved", a made up word that combines the Russian word "privet" (hello or hi) and "medved" (bear). The title eventually became known as "Preved Medved" (translation "Hello Bear").[2]
A website specialising in oil and gas news, www.gazpromneft.com (unaffiliated with oil producing and refining company Gazprom Neft), used the company's logo and the "Medved" bear.[3]
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