Droit du seigneur 1874

Vasily Polenov's 1874 painting *Droit du seigneur* depicts a scene of feudal oppression, a nobleman exercising his right to the first night with a young woman, a practice known as "droit du seigneur". The painting is a dramatic portrayal of the historical reality of feudalism, with the nobleman standing proudly in his finery, contrasting with the despair of the young woman and her family. The setting of the painting is a medieval village, with the stone walls and architecture adding to the sense of period authenticity. *Droit du seigneur* remains a powerful commentary on the injustices of the past, and is a work that continues to resonate with viewers today.