Scenes from Russian Folk Life n.d.

Ignatii Stepanovich Shchedrovskii created this print, titled "Scenes from Russian Folk Life," sometime in the mid-19th century. Shchedrovskii lived during a time of significant social stratification in Russia, with a rigid class structure that deeply affected daily life. Here, we see men of different social strata interacting. Two figures are deeply engaged in a card game, while others look on, smoking pipes. There’s an intense focus in the expressions and body language of the gamblers, set against the backdrop of rural Russia. The scene presents a slice of life that reflects the social dynamics of the time, revealing a fascination with the everyday experiences of ordinary people. Shchedrovskii captures a quiet, intimate moment that speaks to the universal experience of leisure and camaraderie. The print offers a glimpse into a society marked by both leisure and the rigid constraints of its time. It suggests an emotional landscape where the personal and the social intersect, inviting us to consider the complexities of identity and belonging in 19th-century Russia.