View of the palace. Rain. 

Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva made this wood engraving titled 'View of the Palace. Rain' sometime in the first half of the 20th century. It invites us to reflect on Russian art and its place within a society undergoing dramatic change. The stark black and white contrast emphasizes the somber mood of a St. Petersburg downpour. We see the way institutions of power, like palaces, are not immune to the forces of nature. Ostroumova-Lebedeva’s choice of the wood engraving technique, a medium often associated with popular and revolutionary movements, suggests a subtle critique of the old order. To fully appreciate this work, we can delve into the social and artistic context of early 20th-century Russia through archives, manifestos, and historical accounts. This will help reveal how artists like Ostroumova-Lebedeva navigated the complex politics of imagery during a period of immense social upheaval.