Study of a peasant on the grass 

Ilya Repin made this oil study of a peasant on an unknown date. It shows us a bearded man, in simple, worn clothing, resting on the grass. Repin was a key figure in the Russian realist movement, which aimed to depict the lives of ordinary people, often with a focus on the hardships faced by the peasantry. Russia in the 19th century was a society undergoing immense social change, with a rigid class structure and a growing sense of social injustice. Artists like Repin used their work to critique these inequalities and challenge the established social order. Studies like these were probably made in preparation for larger, more ambitious paintings that explored themes of poverty, inequality, and social reform. To understand it better, we could research the social and economic conditions of the Russian peasantry during Repin's time, as well as the development of realist art as a vehicle for social commentary. Only then can we appreciate the painting's power to reflect and challenge the social structures of its time.