Children of the Solon tribe 1869 - 1870

Vasily Vereshchagin painted "Children of the Solon Tribe" with oils on canvas. The image captures two young boys amidst a field of wildflowers, inviting reflection on Russia's imperial gaze and ethnographic interests in the late 19th century. Vereshchagin, known for his war paintings, also depicted scenes from his travels, often focusing on the lives of people encountered in newly acquired territories. This work hints at that. The Solon tribe, an indigenous group from Siberia and Manchuria, is presented here through the lens of Russian ethnography, a field gaining momentum within the Russian Geographical Society and other institutions. Visual codes of dress and hairstyle mark the boys as members of this specific group. The painting, therefore, not only documents but also participates in the categorization and representation of cultures within the Russian empire. To fully understand the context, we can turn to the archives of the Russian Geographical Society, travelogues, and ethnographic studies of the period. These historical resources would shed light on the complex power dynamics between the Russian empire and the indigenous populations it encountered. The image is a reminder that art often serves as a window into the social and institutional contexts that shape its creation and interpretation.