Trojka met drie paarden, vermoedelijk in Rusland 1883 - 1900

Alexis Mazourine likely captured this image, “Trojka met drie paarden, vermoedelijk in Rusland” (Troika with three horses, presumably in Russia), during the late 19th or early 20th century. Mazourine worked during a transformative period in Russian history, marked by industrialization and social upheaval, all under the autocratic rule of the Tsars. This photograph presents a scene that seems to capture the traditional way of life, yet also reveals the complexities of Russia's social structure. A troika, typically a symbol of speed and Russian identity, carries passengers through a snow-laden landscape. But who are these people? Are they members of the aristocracy, or are they common folk braving the harsh winter conditions? The photograph doesn’t give much away; the figures are bundled up against the cold, their identities obscured. Mazourine invites us to contemplate Russia’s vastness, its stark beauty, and the lives of the people within it. It stands as a reminder of the powerful undercurrents of identity and survival that course through both personal and national histories.