Sketches of the Russian-Turkish war. Bulgarian house. 1877

Here is a sketch of a Bulgarian house created by Vasily Polenov in 1877. It was made during the Russo-Turkish war, a conflict deeply entangled with questions of identity, sovereignty, and cultural affiliation in the Balkans. Polenov, a Russian artist, captured this scene amid a war that had profound implications for the Bulgarian people. The image reveals a modest dwelling, a mundane scene of rural life, with livestock scattered in the foreground and a man standing by a horse-drawn cart. Yet, this simple image is imbued with the weight of the war, raising questions about the impact of conflict on the everyday lives and cultural identity of Bulgarian people. It invites us to consider the cultural and ethnic complexities of the region, and how these were affected by Russian expansionist policies of the time. The sketch embodies the intersection of personal experience and larger geopolitical forces. It encourages a reflection on how war and politics shape individual lives and cultural landscapes.