A Drowned Woman (Found Drowned) 1867

Vasily Perov painted "A Drowned Woman," now at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, using oil on canvas. Perov has used the materiality of the paint to emphasize the grim scene. Thin washes of browns and greys capture the damp atmosphere and the woman’s lifelessness. The textures in the paint, applied in loose brushstrokes, create a sense of unease and immediacy. The slickness of the oil paint allows Perov to describe the play of light on the water, and the dark, saturated tones accentuate the tragedy of the scene. The medium becomes a vehicle for social commentary; Perov was known for his critical realism, a movement focusing on the harsh realities of Russian life. The smooth, refined techniques of academic painting are rejected in favor of a more direct, almost journalistic style. He emphasizes the stark contrast between the drowned woman and the indifferent policeman, highlighting issues of poverty, despair, and social inequality. Perov asks us to consider the human cost of industrial progress and the moral responsibilities of society.