I’m not a huge history buff so I have no idea but I wonder if there are any instances in which emancipation went smoothly? Emancipation in the United States certainly didn’t go smoothly and obviously nor did it in Russia..
Author: cgwoodward
Comment on Russia’s Great Divide by cgwoodward
I always have such a hard time reading history, not just because in a lot of cases it is dry but also because the times were so difficult and so many people had it so rough. I’m glad I was able to make the content easier for others to understand though, I always try to recreate the history in my head to remember it in a way easier than block text from a book.
Comment on Russia’s Great Divide by cgwoodward
You’re right that would have been another good way to attempt avoiding revolution. It seems to me like a revolution was kind of inevitable though with such large disparities and disdain between the classes.
Comment on Russia’s Great Divide by cgwoodward
I really enjoyed Rachel’s post! I think it showed the agrarian life that I tried to touch on in a really great way that draws the audience in because they are actually able to see the people’s faces.
Comment on The Divine Penitentiary: Solovetskii Monastery’s Solemn History by cgwoodward
Oops can’t figure out how to edit my comment, I think it was someone else who presented this picture in class but regardless such an interesting history to it!
Comment on The Divine Penitentiary: Solovetskii Monastery’s Solemn History by cgwoodward
That is such a crazy history for a monastery! I was really interested in this photograph after you presented it in class and I am so glad you researched it more to give us a better glimpse of what is was.
Comment on Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii Visits Topornia by cgwoodward
First off, this is a great photograph and I enjoyed your discussion of it in class! The contrast in the appearance of the girl and of the town behind her is questionable I think. It seems to me like she was handpicked because she looks nicer, presumably, than others in her community. I just wonder if the photographer was instructed to portray a happier/better life in the Russian Empire than it really was at that time. Art is usually left to the artist’s discretion but with such a strong backing from the Tsar I wonder if there were any strings attached.
Comment on Alter of Virgin Mary by cgwoodward
This is such a beautiful photograph! It’s interesting that the photographer’s motive for his photography was educating school children, I’m glad you found that information to share with us. In times where Russia is usually viewed as not much more than cold, bad, or backward, it’s great to see the beauty and history of the empire at the time of these photographs. Photography is such a great way to capture history, especially with regard to religious pieces because as you said, religion is such a big part of history!
