In Rooms 

Alexei Korzukhin's oil painting, "In Rooms," offers a glimpse into the domestic life of 19th-century Russia. The painting depicts two figures, likely servants, within a household setting. Korzukhin painted this work in a Russia defined by rigid social hierarchies and nascent industrialization. The artist, associated with the Peredvizhniki movement, often depicted the lives of ordinary people, reflecting a broader cultural interest in social realism. How does the image create meaning? The contrast between the figures and the dark interior underscores their subordinate position. The act of serving tea becomes a symbol of their labor within a stratified society. To fully understand this work, we can consult historical records, literature, and social commentaries from the period. Korzukhin's "In Rooms" prompts us to consider the ways in which art can reflect and challenge the social structures of its time. It invites us to think about the role of the artist as a social observer and commentator.