Scenes from Russian Folk Life n.d.

This print, Scenes from Russian Folk Life, was created by Ignatii Stepanovich Shchedrovskii in the 19th century. It uses a printmaking technique called etching, where lines are incised into a metal plate, and then filled with ink to make an impression on paper. The image shows the stark realities of Russian life through contrasting figures: laborers, and what appears to be an officer overseeing them. The etching technique suits this narrative well, the stark lines and tonal gradations creating a sense of contrast and tension. It speaks to the social context of Russia at the time, with its rigid class structure and the labor of the working class being observed. By focusing on the way this print was made, and the world it depicts, we begin to see how art and craft can shed light on the complex relationships between labor, class, and society.