Astrologer 1886

Ivan Kramskoy created this drawing called 'Astrologer' using pencil and watercolor. Kramskoy was active in Russia during the second half of the 19th century, a period marked by intense social and intellectual ferment. Here, an old man is hunched over a table covered with books and instruments, while a skeleton hangs ominously in the background. Russia at this time was experiencing a crisis of faith, as traditional beliefs were challenged by the rise of scientific rationalism and revolutionary ideologies. We can see an allusion to these challenges represented in the artwork. Kramskoy was a key figure in the Peredvizhniki movement, also known as "The Wanderers," who sought to create art that addressed the social and political concerns of the Russian people. Kramskoy and others critiqued the Imperial Academy of Arts and its rigid academic style. Looking into social history, we find Kramskoy's desire to promote the use of art as a tool for social change. We can delve deeper into this by looking at exhibition reviews and the artist’s personal correspondence, which can offer valuable insights into the artist’s motivations. By doing so, we appreciate how art can challenge social norms.