Burlak who hold hands on the strap 1866

"Burlak who hold hands on the strap" is a painting by Vasily Vereshchagin, created in 1866. The painting portrays a single burlak, a Russian laborer who hauled barges along rivers. The burlak is shown in profile, with his hands clasped tightly around the strap of a barge, his weary expression capturing the immense physical toll of his work. This work, along with Vereshchagin's other depictions of burlaks, highlights the harsh realities of labor in 19th-century Russia. The painting's realism and focus on social commentary are characteristic of Vereshchagin's artistic style.