Vuurwerk in Moskou bij de viering van het einde van de Russisch-Turkse Oorlog, 1775 (Acte IV) 1775

Emel'ian Alekseevič Fedoseev created this etching, entitled Vuurwerk in Moskou bij de viering van het einde van de Russisch-Turkse Oorlog, 1775 (Acte IV), in 1775. It depicts fireworks in Moscow celebrating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. This work is a window into the spectacle of 18th-century imperial power. Russia's victory over the Ottoman Empire was more than a military triumph; it was a statement of Russia’s expanding influence on the global stage. The elaborate fireworks display served to underscore Russia's achievements under Empress Catherine II. As we consider this image, we must also reflect on the complex power dynamics it represents. This display of might was achieved, in part, through the exploitation of serf labor and the suppression of dissent. It's a reminder that celebrations of national glory often mask social inequalities and human suffering. This print invites us to consider the cost of imperial ambition.