A village 

Isaac Levitan, a Russian landscape painter, possibly created this oil painting titled ‘A Village’ during the late 19th century. Levitan’s Jewish identity profoundly shaped his artistic journey, as he encountered anti-Semitism that led to his expulsion from Moscow. His experience of marginalization fueled a deep engagement with the Russian landscape, where he sought solace and belonging. In ‘A Village,’ we are offered a glimpse into the intimate relationship between the land and its inhabitants. The subdued color palette and the unadorned depiction of rural life invite us to contemplate the simplicity and resilience of peasant communities. In this work, Levitan diverges from romanticized portrayals of Russian villages. Consider the humble dwellings and the dirt path leading into the village. Levitan offers a vision of Russia that is rooted in the everyday experiences of its people.