Journey of the quarterly family on a pilgrimage. Sketch 1868

Vasily Perov made this sketch titled 'Journey of the quarterly family on a pilgrimage' in nineteenth-century Russia. Pilgrimages were common in Russia, often undertaken by peasants seeking spiritual solace or divine intervention. But Perov’s depiction is hardly romantic. The family seems weary, burdened by their belongings and the apparent hardships of their journey. Note the prominent boundary marker, perhaps hinting at the restrictive social and geographical confines of Russian peasant life. The artwork subtly critiques the idealized image of religious devotion often associated with pilgrimages. Perov questions the social structures of his time, hinting at the desperation that might drive such arduous journeys. To fully understand this work, we might explore census records, accounts of peasant life, and religious practices in 19th-century Russia. This helps us understand the complex interplay between faith, social class, and the realities of life for ordinary Russians. By doing so, we appreciate how art can be a critical reflection on the society from which it emerges.