Burlak with the cap in his hand 1866

Vasily Vereshchagin's "Burlak with the cap in his hand" (1866) depicts a Russian peasant, likely a burlak, a man who pulled barges along rivers. The painting's realism portrays the harshness of the burlak's life through the worn clothing and weary posture of the subject, holding a cap in his hand as he bends forward. This work, characteristic of Vereshchagin's style, reflects his interest in depicting the realities of life for ordinary people in 19th-century Russia. The painting highlights the physical toll of manual labor and the hardship faced by the working class during this era.