Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii (1863–1944) was a famous pioneer in the art of photography during the early 20th century in Russia. Using his background in chemistry, he was able to give color to images that were initially black and white by utilizing a special technique that he coined … Continue reading Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii Visits Topornia
Month: January 2018
Importance of Early Steam Engines and Railways
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This is the Kompaund Steam Engine. This steam engine and the many others like it were instrumental in Soviet History. Before railroads and efficient steam engines much of Russia was completely rural, and not easily accessible. The introduction of such steam engines and the many miles of railroad allowed for people, and more importantly raw … Continue reading Importance of Early Steam Engines and Railways
1st stop: The Emir of Bukhara
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https://www.wdl.org/en/item/2496/#q=+Bukhara
As I begin my journey into Russia, I wanted to push myself to expand my knowledge into worlds unknown, worlds that will make me a more well rounded student. I consider myself a Europeanist, so my goal for today was to explore something out of my comfort zone.
The Russian Cowboy and the Murmansk Railroad
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In the 1915, when Sergeĭ Mikhaĭlovich Prokudin-Gorskiĭ took a photograph of himself and two railroad guards posing at a construction site, both the railroad and the war that had prompted the railroad had begun fairly recently.
Russia’s Great Divide
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This photograph was taken by Russian photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii in the town of Zlatoust in approximately 1909. At first glance, it appears to be a beautiful photograph with the delightful contrast of city and countryside. However, upon closer observation and research this photograph looks to me like a visual representation of the great divide in the …
Community Within a Divided Country
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In 1861, Tsar Alexander II, Alexander the Liberator, had liberated the serfdom population of Russia. The once reigning feudal system had come to a halt and was replaced with the idea of equality. However, serfdom reform was not about a moral obligation but rather political gain. Alexander justifies his decision with a blunt statement, “It […]
When Life Gives You Metal, Make A Lot of Swords
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A Carpenter Tells All
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In this photograph, taken by Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii in 1905, we see a man working as a carpenter in a town known as Samarkand. Samarkand is located in present day Uzbekistan, and was once part of the Russian Empire. Samarkand was likely founded due to its location along the Silk Road. Due to its … Continue reading A Carpenter Tells All →
Three Generations
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The Generation Gap: The Visualization of Western Influence
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Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii. Three Generations, 1910. Digital color rendering. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ppmsc-03952 (24) This photograph at first appears simple. After all, it merely depicts three generations of a Russian family. “A. P. Kalganov poses with his son and granddaughter for a portrait in the industrial town of Zlatoust in the Ural Mountain …
Continue reading The Generation Gap: The Visualization of Western Influence
