Botanist 1874

Vasily Perov painted 'Botanist' in Russia using oil on canvas. The painting uses traditional fine art materials to invite a discussion on class. Its texture and weight contribute to its realism, grounding the botanist in his environment, while the light evokes a sense of time and place. The level of skill required to blend the paint and give it realistic qualities reflects the formal traditions Perov learned. Yet the painting also reflects contemporary concerns with labor. The botanist is an educated professional, but he is shown working in the fields like a peasant. This would have been especially poignant in the context of 19th-century Russia, where there was an ongoing tension between modernization and traditional ways of life. The amount of work that goes into being a botanist - both intellectual and physical - is also emphasized. By focusing on materials, process, and social context, we can better understand the full meaning of 'Botanist', which challenged the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.