River in the foothills 1889

Lev Lagorio painted this watercolor river landscape. He was a 19th century Russian artist, deeply influenced by the romantic tradition of landscape painting. Lagorio's work often presented idealized views of nature, reflecting a longing for the sublime and untouched landscapes. The image of cows drinking peacefully in a river suggests an idealized vision of rural life, which was a common theme in 19th-century art as industrialization rapidly changed society. The artwork is very peaceful; however, consider that Russia had a rigid class structure at this time. The serfs had very little freedom and were essentially owned by the landowners. So while the artwork is not obviously political, this historical context gives another layer to our viewing of it. We might question whose idealization of rural life is being represented and whose reality it reflects.