Barge Haulers Pulling on the Strap 1870

"Barge Haulers Pulling on the Strap" (1870) is a charcoal sketch by Ilya Repin, a prominent Russian realist artist. The sketch depicts two men, bent over and bound by a strap, illustrating the arduous labor of barge haulers. The image is a study for Repin's famous painting "Barge Haulers on the Volga," emphasizing the artist's fascination with realism and social commentary. Repin's keen eye for detail and expressive lines capture the grueling physicality and hardship of the men's labor, exposing the harsh realities of working-class life in 19th-century Russia.