Peasant boys 1880

Vladimir Makovsky painted 'Peasant Boys' with oil on canvas. This work captures a slice of 19th-century Russian rural life. Makovsky was a key figure in the Peredvizhniki movement, a group of Russian realist artists who aimed to depict the everyday life of the common people, often with a critical eye towards social inequality. Russia at this time was undergoing significant social and political change, with growing calls for reform and greater rights for the peasantry, who made up the vast majority of the population. The painting reflects these sentiments through its unidealized portrayal of peasant children. Far from romanticizing rural life, Makovsky subtly critiques the hardships faced by these children. To truly understand Makovsky's 'Peasant Boys,' we might turn to archives, letters, and other historical documents to get a feel for the debates around serfdom and social reform. The painting reminds us that art is always made in a specific social and institutional context.